It was the worst day of my 10-year-old life!
I wanted nothing more than to be a percussionist in the school band, but I failed the test and was told to choose another instrument. I was so upset, and my mom called to ask if I could have another chance. They said I could schedule another evaluation in three months and try again. Their advice was to practice 30 minutes a day to get better. I wanted to play the drums so badly that I ignored their suggestion, and practiced 45 min every day instead.
That was my first experience with working to become a master of my craft. After 90 days, I not only made the percussion group, I was the best in the group! I continued to practice every day, without fail. I sought out other musician friends and we played together regularly. I got better and better because I kept playing and playing. Throughout high school, I played in bands (most people had never seen an awesome female drummer!) and was even recommended by my music teacher to teach percussion to younger students. I made a good income in high school teaching drum lessons!
I had to work hard, and I did. That is why I succeeded. As I grew into my adult life and work experiences, I noticed something that I never really understood about people who had talent and ability - not everyone wants to put in the necessary work to truly become a master of their craft.
So many people don’t get opportunities simply because they don’t want to put in the work to get where they say they want to get. This is astounding to me. I understand that doing the same thing over and over and over again is not the most exciting or engaging thing in the world, but those whom do it reach a level of confidence that is unbeatable. That is where their success comes from.
When people look like “naturals,” they are not, they just started and didn’t stop. As a speaker, I did this. As a salesperson, I did this. You can apply this same approach to anything you want to accomplish in life. Start and DO NOT stop! Practice every single day, whether you feel like it or not. Practice every single day, whether you have an audience or not (talk to the dog or a pillow!).
I had a personal experience as a speaker early on in my career when, as a salesperson, I was asked to speak at a conference in front of a bunch of high-level executives from a large company. I have never been SO nervous in my life! I was sick to my stomach because of my nerves, but I did it anyway. I presented and it went well, but I got home and thought to myself I never want to feel like that again. So, I practiced at every chance I got to speak in front of a group. I practiced speaking in a room and on a stage; I practiced answering questions and presenting different types of material. I practiced talking out loud in my car whenever I was driving, sharing my ideas and describing how I did things in my everyday life. That is what led me to become a professional speaker.
If you want to become someone who is a true master of your craft, here are three things you need to do beginning today
No matter what anyone tells you, there is only one way to get better - do the work.
Stop looking for shortcuts. When you start and keep going, you create momentum. When you create momentum, you are a little stronger, a little more knowledgeable, and able to perform no matter what the situation. Your skill gets better, your timing gets better, your confidence gets better, and that’s when you become a master of your craft.
Do it constantly.
If you only do something once and a while, don't be surprised when you only get results once in a while. That 10-year-old version of me drummed on everything, all the time. If there was a surface, I was practicing a paradiddle! What you choose to do consistently is what you will do well. Even if it is at the expense of something else, sacrifice is not something bad if it allows you to focus on what you want to master. You have to say no to things that don’t matter in order to become a master of something that does matter.
Once you get really good at something, get out there!
At some point, you have to stop practicing and start doing it out in the real world. If I kept practicing speeches in my head, I would never know what it feels like to be on a stage, in front of other people, or the timing of it. Jump at opportunities, fumble the ball! A big part of success is figuring it out by pushing through the fear!
If you sit around worrying about fear of failure and what other people will think you will never find your success. You are always just where you are. If you want to get somewhere else, you have to get out there and push through. That’s how you learn, how you get seen, and how you get better.
Don’t listen to people who tell you otherwise; get focused and get busy. Mastering your craft brings with it a level of confidence that allows you to stand out and be recognized. It’s a mindset of discipline and it doesn’t matter what age you are or where you are in your life. Start working on your craft today, and don’t stop until you are exactly where you want to be. When you want to do something, you have to put in the work - that’s all there is to it.
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