How to Become a Master
Do you yearn to become a master at something? To change directions? To alter the course of your life but hesitate to begin? Do you want to become the “next best…” but are unsure where or how to start?
When we desire to begin a new journey or adopt a new technique, sometimes we can get stuck. We know that we need assistance but do not want to seem lacking. This hesitation can make it difficult to embark on a new journey, especially if we are unsure of ourselves. Many put off learning new skills for fear of seeming stupid or unworthy.
To begin the journey of mastery, we are required only to do one thing: learn. What does this mean? To some, it could mean something simple like signing up for classes or picking up a book on the subject.
Being a master or expert means that you must appear to be knowledgeable at all times, right?
Wrong.
Starting a new endeavour will always begin with a decision—a decision to become a student once again, to rid yourself of pride and knowledge past learned and to focus fully on becoming a metaphorical sponge to new information—to begin again at Level One. Remove any ideas of perfection, mastery, or pressure to perform for yourself or anyone else.
The most important part of Mastery is listening. Focus on absorbing information from books, experts, and fellow students—anywhere you can manage. Aim to fully understand the subject, not just memorize and regurgitate without comprehension.
Allow yourself to ask simple, sometimes obvious questions, not worry about what anyone says, and focus fully on the learning experience. To understand the information from the master, you should be willing to come across as new, inexperienced, and willing to learn.
Explore. Learn by doing, focus on new information, and immediately implement it. Did you get similar results that your masters did? If not, repeat the cycle until you know exactly how to understand the new skills/knowledge you aim for. Be willing to fail, ask for help, and strive for understanding and competence before mastery is even on your mind.
Become a student.
Listen.
Ask questions.
Put new knowledge into practice.
Repeat.
“You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path.”