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In this article, we’ll discuss practical things you can start doing today if you’re not good at anything. If you apply these strategies, your life can change within the next 6 months.
The Mindset That Makes You Truly Good at Something
After I graduated from the university, the reality also hit me that I wasn’t good at anything. Why?
My mindset.
I had a romanticized idea of what my passion should look like. I imagined it will be something I’ll enjoy doing all the time, so much that I’ll forget to eat and poop. And I pictured it will be exciting all my life. But this mindset only got me stuck.
And sadly enough, this is the mindset that everyone who isn’t good at anything has. They keep looking for that one special thing that they’ll love to do all the time. But the problem with this mentality is that it keeps you stuck.
If you don’t throw your romanticized idea of passion out the window, you’ll keep drifting from one thing to another until it’s too late to start afresh.
In reality, you’ll have to stick to something even when it is no longer new and exciting. You’ll have to go through some days feeling like sh*t. This is how the world works. But the reward you’ll get at the end of mastery will make everything worth it.
Because in the end, you won’t just master the skill, you’ll master yourself as well.
13 Things You Should Start Doing if You’re Not Good at Anything
Now that you understand the mindset it requires to truly be good at something, here are things you can do to finally achieve your goal. Some of them have to do with mental shifts. But most of them are practical. Let’s get into it.
1. Find something that interests you
Finding something that truly interests you is the first step to being good at something.
Imagine waking up each day and having something to look forward to, something that makes you feel energized and inspired. That’s what it feels like when you find something you’re passionate about.
But, how do you find that thing that ignites a spark in you? The answer is simple:
Think about your hobbies and interests. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Maybe you love painting, gardening, or hiking. Or, maybe you’ve always wanted to learn a new language, try a new sport, or start playing an instrument. The options are endless!
Once you’ve found something that piques your interest, dive in. Try it out and see if it’s something you want to pursue.
Don’t have any interests or hobbies yet? Then try new things.
Try a new hobby, sign up for a class or workshop, or even volunteer for a cause you care about. The more you try new things, the more you’ll learn about what you enjoy and what you’re naturally good at.
[Related: How to Be Too Good to Be Ignored]
2. Go all in
Okay, so you’ve taken that first step and found something you’re interested in. Now, it’s time to go all in. This means putting in the time, effort, and dedication to become a master at your chosen skill.
Some people never become good at anything because they’ve never really put their 100%. It’s always one leg in and one leg out.
But going all in doesn’t mean you have to drop everything else and do it 24/7, but it does mean making it a priority and dedicating a significant portion of your time and energy to it.
The idea is simple: The more you focus on your chosen skill, the faster you’ll see progress and improvement.
Think about it, if you want to become an expert at playing the guitar, you wouldn’t just practice once a week, you’d make time every day to play, listen to music, and learn new techniques.
The same goes for any skill you want to develop. You have to be willing to put in the effort to see results.
So, are you ready to go all in? Make a plan and commit to dedicating time and effort to your chosen skill each day. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll see progress and how good you can become!
Remember, progress takes time and effort, but if you go all in and truly dedicate yourself to your skill, you’ll start to see real improvement and find success in areas you never thought possible.
3. Learn from experts
One of the best ways to get better at something is to learn from those who are already experts. I mean, why try to reinvent the wheel when you can learn from someone who has already figured it out?
There’s nothing you want to learn that someone else hasn’t already attained mastery in. And you won’t just be learning the skill from them. You’ll also be getting inspiration from them about what’s possible.
By seeking out guidance from those who are better than you, you can learn tips and tricks.
Furthermore, you’re able to skip over some of the trial and error that often comes with learning something new. They can help you perfect your technique, give you feedback on your progress and provide guidance as you grow.
So, how do you find a mentor or teacher?
It can be as simple as reaching out to someone for advice or taking a class or workshop with a knowledgeable instructor or consuming their content online. And you never know, by learning from others, you may discover new interests and opportunities you never thought were possible.
[Interesting: 6 Vital Lessons People Learn Too Late In Life]
4. Learning discipline
Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.
Success, they say, is 10% talent and 90% hard work. That hard work comes from discipline. And the power of discipline can’t be underestimated when it comes to becoming a master.
Anyone can pick up a skill today and be happy to start. This is because beginnings are always exciting. We love newness. But once things start getting difficult and repetitive, we get bored and move to something else.
Discipline is what helps you stick to your routine, even when you don’t feel like it. It’s what helps you push through tough times and overcome obstacles. It’s the key ingredient that will help you achieve success and become good at something.
But here’s the thing, discipline isn’t something you’re born with. It’s a skill that can be developed and honed over time. It takes practice, patience, and a little bit of creativity to build it up, but trust me, it’s worth it.
5. Get comfortable with discomfort
Getting good at anything has a lot to do with how you handle your comfort zone. Let me explain.
When you’re learning something new, there’s always that temptation to stick to what’s already familiar.
If you play the keyboard, for instance, you’ll want to stick to the simple notes, and master only one hand and easy techniques because that will give you the illusion that you’re truly getting better.
But improving involves learning harder things. It means you’ll have to be a novice over and over again at different things, instead of quickly being a master at the basic stuff.
Of course, this isn’t going to be easy. And that’s the whole point: to get comfortable with the uneasiness.
If you’re okay with being uncomfortable, if you don’t mind being seen as a fool to learn something new, you’ll quickly get ahead. As Jordan Peterson once said, a fool is a precursor to a savior.
[Read: How To Be More Creative: 8 Actionable Tips]
6. Practice, practice, practice
Practice makes perfect, right? But let’s not focus on perfection. Instead, let’s focus on progress.
Every time you practice, you’re taking a step closer to your goal. Every mistake you make is an opportunity to learn and grow. And every time you overcome a challenge, you build confidence and become more skilled.
Imagine if LeBron James only played basketball for an hour a week. Do you think he would be the star player he is today? No way!
It takes hours upon hours of dedicated practice to become a master of your craft. The same goes for anything you want to be good at.
And here’s the best part, practice doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, it can be quite enjoyable. When you’re practicing, you’re not only developing your skills, but you’re also getting to know your abilities and limitations.
You start to see what works and what doesn’t, and you learn how to overcome your challenges. Plus, the more you practice, the more you begin to enjoy the process, and that’s when you know you’re on the right track.
So, don’t be intimidated by the idea of practice. Embrace it! Make time each day to work on your chosen skill and focus on improvement. And before you know it, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.
7. Embrace failure
Embracing failure can seem like a daunting task, but it’s one of the most important steps on the road to mastery.
You see, we often view failure as a negative experience, something to be ashamed of or avoid at all costs. But what if I told you that failure can be a valuable tool for growth and improvement?
Every time we fall short or make a mistake, we have the opportunity to learn from it. We can analyze what went wrong and find ways to improve. This self-reflection and growth can be incredibly valuable in helping us develop new skills and become better at what we do.
But, here’s the thing: embracing failure takes a certain level of courage and resilience. It’s easy to get discouraged and give up when things don’t go as planned, but if you can find the courage to pick yourself up and try again, you’ll be amazed at the progress you can make.
[Also read: How To Be More Confident In 5 Minutes]
8. Be patient with yourself
We all have this notion that success and mastery should come quickly and easily, but the truth is, it takes time and effort to become skilled at something. And that’s okay.
Think about it, have you ever tried to learn a new language or play an instrument? It takes time to get the basics down, let alone become proficient. The same goes for developing a new skill or finding success in a new area.
You won’t become an expert overnight, but with patience and perseverance, you’ll get there.
I mean, you wouldn’t expect a baby to walk on its first try, or a plant to grow overnight, would you?
It’s important to remember that progress and success take time. Don’t get discouraged if you’re not seeing immediate results or if you’re not as good as you want to be yet. Trust the process, keep practicing, and most importantly, be kind to yourself.
Whenever you’re feeling frustrated or discouraged, remind yourself that being patient with yourself is an important step in the journey toward becoming good at something. Celebrate the small wins, keep pushing yourself and eventually, you’ll get there.
9. Set up systems for yourself
If you want to be good at something, you need a roadmap to get there, right?
You wouldn’t start a road trip without knowing where you’re going and how you’re going to get there. The same goes for your goals. To truly be successful, you need to have a clear plan in place. This is where systems come in.
A system helps you work smarter instead of harder. I mean, if you’re trying to learn a new skill, you want to make sure that you’re using your time and energy in the best possible way.
By creating a system, you can streamline your process and ensure that you’re using your time and resources in the most effective way possible.
For instance, let’s say you’re trying to learn a new language. You could set up a system where you spend an hour each day practicing vocabulary and grammar, and another hour listening to native speakers. This way, you’ll be able to see your progress and stay motivated to continue learning.
Another way to set up systems is by breaking down large tasks into smaller, more manageable ones. This way, you can focus on one thing at a time and not get overwhelmed by the big picture.
[Read: 7 Small Habits That Will Put You Ahead in 2023]
10. Learn from your mistakes
We’ve all been there — making a mistake, feeling embarrassed or defeated.
But, did you know that your mistakes can be one of the best tools for improving your skills and abilities? Learning from your mistakes is a key step in becoming good at something.
Every time you make a mistake, you have an opportunity to reflect on what went wrong and find ways to improve.
It’s like a test, but in real life. Every time you get a question wrong, you learn something new and can use that knowledge to do better next time. The same goes for your mistakes — use them as learning opportunities and you’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll see improvement.
In fact, if you take a moment to look down memory lane right now, you’ll see how far you’ve come and how much you’ve grown because of your mistakes.
But, it’s not just about reflecting on what went wrong, it’s also about being open to feedback and criticism. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from others and listen to their suggestions for improvement.
After all, you can’t learn from your mistakes if you’re not open to constructive criticism.
11. Celebrate small wins
If you’re learning to play the guitar and finally strum a chord correctly, it’s a huge win!
It may seem small to others, but it’s a huge accomplishment for you. And acknowledging and celebrating this win will give you the motivation to keep practicing and eventually play a whole song.
When you’re working hard to develop a new skill, it’s easy to get caught up in the end goal and forget about the small victories that lead you there. But, celebrating these milestones helps keep you motivated and gives you the confidence to keep pushing forward.
As the popular saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” The same goes for developing new skills and finding success. It’s not something that happens overnight, but rather a journey filled with ups and downs. And that’s why it’s so important to celebrate your small wins along the way.
Pat yourself on the back when you hit a milestone, no matter how small it may seem. It’ll give you a sense of accomplishment and keep you motivated to keep working towards your ultimate goal.
[Related: 9 Basic Life Principles That Will Make You Better Than 98% of People
12. Seek feedback
Feedback isn’t easy to accept when they’re negative. But you need them to improve yourself.
Learn to look at it this way: seeking feedback is not just about getting criticism. It’s about learning and growing. It’s about taking the information you receive, analyzing it, and finding ways to improve.
Also, seek feedback from yourself. Take the time to reflect on your progress and evaluate what’s working and what’s not.
This self-reflection can help you identify areas for improvement and give you a clear understanding of what you need to do to reach your goals.
Finally, never give up
You’ve tried new things, taken classes, sought advice from experts, set goals, celebrated your successes, made mistakes and learned from them, etc. And yet, you may still feel like you’re there yet.
But here’s the thing, success and skill development take time and patience.
Imagine if some of the greatest minds in history, like Albert Einstein or Steve Jobs, had given up when they faced challenges and obstacles. The world would be a completely different place. This is why you need to have a growth mindset and keep pushing yourself, even when it gets tough.
So, if you’re feeling discouraged, take a step back and remind yourself of why you started. Refocus on your goals, find inspiration and motivation, and never give up on your journey.
Remember, success is not a destination, it’s a journey and the journey is just as important as the destination.
[Read: Hard Truths From Jordan Peterson Will Help You Level Up]
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