There is something so inspiring about watching someone learn a new skill, become proficient, then take it to the next level and become an expert. I remember a few years ago my sister Stacey became interested in mountain biking. We all think, “Oh that’s great, it’s good to try new things.”
I don’t think any of us imagined that it would become the main passion of his life (he was never a super athletic person before), but he found a mentor, learned the basics, rode his bike every day, and with a tireless source of determination he He set out to learn all he could about mountain biking.
After learning the basics, he started learning how to repair his own bike and replace parts. Then he decided that he wanted to build his own bike from scratch, which really impresses me.
She was clearly entering esoteric and unexplored territory as our family was concerned with her orders for dark bike magazines and accessories for Christmas and birthdays and with the addition of multiple bike image tattoos on her body to express the impact that this extreme sport was. taking in the direction of your life.
Now, 6 years later, he works as a bike shop manager in New York doing repairs, building bikes, selling bikes, and giving advice to other cycling enthusiasts.
Just imagine, over the course of a few years, Stacey went from being a complete newbie whose physical activity was limited to the occasional walk around the neighborhood, to an expert in the field of mountain biking.
So what is the key to being able to go from zero knowledge to expert in your field of choice, be it mountain biking, doing Kung Fu, playing guitar, being a professional blogger, a life coach, or whatever else? in the life?
1. Commit to dominance.
“The only thing that stands between you as a hobbyist and you as an expert is dedication. All the talk of prodigies? We could all be prodigies (or almost) if we just put in the time and concentration. Best of all: – It’s almost never too late, “encourages brain science expert Kathy Sierra.
2. Stay with him long term.
If you are committed to being successful in a field that is completely new to you, you should be prepared to invest at least 3-5 years of consistent focus. If that puts you off, save your time and don’t bother.
3. Don’t let it bother you to suck at first.
Self-development guru Steve Pavlina cautions, “When you start in a whole new field with no experience, you’re going to suck … chances are, it really sucks. If you’re lucky, your results will be bad rather than painfully bad. But. messing up is perfectly fine. That is supposed to happen. Messing up is the way to learn. Every mistake helps you make new distinctions and increase your skill. “
4. Don’t be discouraged that most people fail.
If you are starting in a field that is very challenging and has a low barrier to entry, such as acting, starting an internet business, professional music or blogging, you will be in the company of many people who are just amateurs. Pavlina says, “In many fields, you only see a 1% success rate because the other 99% are just taking up space. You will find a small percentage of people who are really committed to the domain, but the rest are virtually hopeless. remarkable success. As you develop skills that normally take years to become proficient in any field worth your while, you go from 99% to 1%. Fans will enter the field, try it for six months, and then give up It’s too difficult to finish. However, a challenging course is good because it means your long-term investment in skill development will mean something. It wouldn’t be a great achievement if it were too easy. “
5. Focus on learning rather than winning at first.
It feels awkward to learn a new skill, and many times you can’t help but be thrown into the same group and compete with experts who have been honing their skills for years. Pavlina says: “It is totally unfair. But that injustice is what provides the challenge and makes it fun. When you are committed, you know that early success is not expected. This is the training phase. Your goal is to survive and learn, not to win “.
6. Know that it is never too late.
Sierra notes: “Most of us can say goodbye to that Olympic ice skating medal. But think about this … actress Geena Davis came close to qualifying for the US Olympic archery team. sport that he practiced at the age of 40, minus three years before the Olympic trials. And if the neuroscientists are right, you can create new brain cells by learning at practically any age. Think about it … if you are 30 today, if you play the guitar Tomorrow, you will have been playing for TWENTY years when you are 50. You will be kicking the butt of a serious guitar. “
So rather than being the product of luck, genetics, learning a skill at a young age, or statistical probability, achieving mastery in a given field is largely the result of personal choice, training, and skill. commitment.
It is encouraging to remember that all experts started out as rookies.
There was a time in Leonardo da Vinci’s life when he knew nothing about painting. There was a time in Lance Armstrong’s life when he didn’t know how to ride a bike. There was a time in Anne Rice’s life when she wasn’t that good at writing. They only achieved expert status after a lot of perseverance, dedication and practice.