Mastery – How to become an expert

First things first:

1. Expertise is a relative term - Remember excellence, not perfection.

2. Learn from books, people and experience.

   • Write, Think, and Talk about the subject with people.

   • Write an article and send for publication in one of the industry magazines.

   • Look at current topics, advertisements, discussions, etc. to be on top of current affairs in industry.

   • Offer to speak at a local college.

3. Focus: Instead of just focusing on the very next step you need to take, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the bigger picture.

   • Narrow your field of expertise. You can still understand neighbouring things, but they aren’t your expertise.

   • Immerse yourself into it. Dedication/Determination/Devotion.

   • Repeatedly apply your expertise and knowledge that you gained in similar situations. Practise makes man Perfect.

   • Develop your insightful approach to problem. Your paradigm.

4. Get outside help: Find mentors, friends, experts, coaches who can help you. At some point, learning and practicing will only get you so far. You need feedback from outsiders to uncover more opportunities for improvement.

   • Be professinal and courteous in accepting criticisms and appreciations.

   • Watch other experts perform. There is no alternative to apprenticeship.

   • Same time, make it a point to help others in need.

5. Make mistakes. You have to be willing to make mistakes in order to learn and grow. The sooner you get comfortable with making mistakes, the quicker you’ll learn your new skill.

   • Start very small.

   • Do only one thing at a time.

   • Be present and enjoy the activity (don’t focus on results).

   • Be grateful for every step you take.

Thank people:

1. Thank for failure - Thank them for providing you a chance. Failure isn’t end of world. It is only end of current work at hand.

2. Thank for criticism - Thank them for providing their insight. People criticize only when they care.

3. Thank for respect - Be thankful to people who respect you and who have brought you to given position.

Spread the word:

1. The audience won’t come to you. You need to find them, so they will come.

2. Understand no one cares what you need. Everybody cares what they need. If you focus on their needs, you can fulfill yours too.

3. Discard 80 percent of your message, only 20% matters. Pitch it with your own style.

<note important>More important ones below:</note>

1. You must start with show, not tell. Everyone has ideas. Ideas are cheap. Talk is even cheaper. We listen to leading thinkers because their ideas have been validated by success. A visionary without a platform is a tree that falls in the forest and makes no sound. When you prove your vision is valid, gaining recognition for visionary thinking is much easier.

2. If everyone agrees, you’re preaching to the choir. Most of us follow basic business principles. But how we apply those principles may be (slightly) different. To be a groundbreaker you must take a very different approach, and that means many people will disagree with your thinking even after you’ve proven you’re right. See push back as a sign you may really be on to something.

3. For a while no one will listen. Groundbreakers not only need great ideas, they also need to effectively communicate those ideas.

4. You must be sure the effort is worth it. You’ll invest countless hours writing, speaking, promoting, and networking, possibly for very little return. Take a hard look at the tangible benefits you expect to receive.