Some people have perfect pitch. Others (pilots and architects) can imagine things in three dimensions. Some things that are hard for other people come naturally to you.
Many people want to have an extra impact, to be leaders, to excel. Not everyone is willing to pay the price. One wise man told me the masters love the grind. Another way to say it is that the drudgery of the grind produces the winning edge. Who wants to have the grit of the grind under your fingernails, in your hair, and in other tender places?
More than 5000 agents belong to the San Diego Association of Realtors. The top 5% make up The Circle of Excellence. We do 62% of the business in the county. The same members tend to be in the Circle year after year. Most of us have policies based on what we learned the hard way; many of us have a team and/or advanced credentials. Each member has a high commitment to our clients’ success.
In most fields, there are a few people who are specially trained and/or gifted and who deliver sustained superior performance. If you’re one of those people, it’s tempting to stay in your comfort zone. Learning something new requires effort and discomfort.
The Hard Truth
Do you like to fall in public? Do you like to fumble the answer when others are listening? I don’t.
If you want to become competent at something new, you must learn. Learning means discovering, trying, failing, admitting confusion, talking through that confusion, trying again… making a different mistake, then giving it another go.
Many of us love being experts in our field. Not everyone will pay the price of looking the fool to learn. They will avoid falling on the ice or saying something silly or embarrassing in a new language. So, they will never learn to ice skate well or master a different language.
“If you are green, you are growing; if you are ripe you are rotting.”
An important mentor said that. He made a fine living teaching adults important skills they needed. This man dramatically re-invented himself. He discovered that his previous bent limited him. He ultimately expanded his influence tenfold by becoming proficient in something new.
I’m following his example. Again. I’m trying to develop competence in an arena that has mystified me. It’s humbling, yet necessary for growth. I have a heroic goal. Although I might not attain that particular outcome, the process of striving for such excellence will make me a better version of myself.
Learning something new is growing. It’s exciting. It’s also hard, can be intimidating, and is usually uncomfortable.
How about you? What will you be learning, exploring, testing this year? What would you like to become better at?
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Terry Moore, CCIM, is the author of Building Legacy Wealth: How to Build Wealth and Live a Life Worth Imitating. Read his “Welcome to My Blog.”