In this knowledge age where it is cheap and easy to learn any trade, it is also easy to become a Jerk of all trades and a master of none. You can easily get carried away by the fascination of being able to attempt so many different things within a short time that you lose track of mastery at anything substantial. I am prone to this challenge and I have had to train myself to streamline my passions and commitments to reflect my area of specialty. Given time and space I can do many things but I choose to focus on the most important things so I can excel at them.
The market pays excellent rewards for excellent performance. It pays average rewards for average performance and below-average rewards, failure, and frustration for below-average performance. Your goal should be to become an expert in your chosen field by learning every single detail about how to do your work better and better. Mastery comes at a high cost and people will be willing to pay highly for people that excel at what they do.
Acquaint yourself with the latest developments in your trade and industry. Read as much as you can about the leaders in your industry, research about their strategies and what enables them to stay on top of their games. Once you learn the basics, begin to apply the same to your trade diligently. Readers are leaders so commit to a culture of reading daily so as to daily become better at what you do. You have so much vital information at your disposal, make use of it.
Set a goal for yourself to become the very best in your business or profession. One small detail, insight, or idea can be the turning point in your career. Never stop looking for it. Celebrate the milestones but quickly move on to the next pursuit before you become too comfortable. Keep aiming higher and higher. Make no room for complacence or mediocre on your pursuit to become one of the top 5% leaders in your industry. It just doesn’t happen; it does take work.
Get acquainted with the leading personalities in your industry. Attend seminars where you can find them, join networks that accommodate such and be vigilant about serving on common projects with them. There is power in association as there is in your networks. Take the time to strategically position yourself so as to be among the first people to get to know about the latest developments in your trade and industry.
When you set your heart to succeed, you will do so at all costs in spite of the setbacks and challenges. Mastery takes time but is worth every effort. Start working on your mastery strategies today and you bet you will reap big in the near future if you apply everything you know to your daily activities. Become a master of your trade.
