The most critical mindset shift needed during this training phase (which could last years) is to accept that to learn something new AND become good at it, we have to slow down to overthink everything.
“Mom, I know this sounds weird, but I’m much better the first day of volleyball practice; then I always get worse over time,” my daughter quipped.
As my kids have gotten older, we have more conversations about the effort and persistence it takes to succeed at anything.
We consistently remind them that it takes years for most people to turn their potential into something they perceive to be outwardly successful.
But we are often fooled by beginner’s luck: when we win a few rounds of poker the first time we learn how to play or surprise ourselves by hitting the bull’s eye in the first few attempts at dart-throwing.
It’s a sweet surprise when we’re automatically great at something. But that initial greatness doesn’t translate to consistent greatness, which makes us wonder if we’re cut out for the task.
Instead, we need to ignore the initial beginner’s luck – it tells us very little about our ultimate success.
Moving past beginner’s luck
When we want to be consistently great at something, we first need to learn the mechanics. That means slowing down to practice different parts of the job.
We can do that by seeking formal training, like a degree or certificate, getting mentorship or coaching, reading and trying, and then applying and practicing those skills.
During that training phase, we might become frustrated. It’s the highest risk time for giving up because we start to feel MORE inept before we start to feel accomplished.
The most critical mindset shift needed during this training phase (which could last years) is to accept that to learn something new AND become good at it, we have to slow down to overthink everything.
That slowing down can feel very frustrating.
You might feel like an imposter or embarrassed and awkward.
Do you give up, or do you choose to work through it?
The greatest players hone their talent and strengths by investing time in constant learning at higher levels, persevering until the mechanics get so easy that they no longer have to think about it and could allow the talent to take over, this time with greater accuracy.
It’s the gap between raw talent and consistent success.