There is an old joke that states “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?”. The punch line…Practice, practice, practice.    

Practice is defined as performing an activity, exercise, or skill repeatedly or regularly in order to improve or maintain one’s proficiency. It is a concept that we easily embrace when it comes to the Arts, Sports, and Languages, etc. We understand that becoming a master requires many years of practice and dedication.  

What strikes me as odd is that many people stop practicing when they grow up and graduate from school; as if they have suddenly acquired all the wisdom and skills needed to successfully maneuver through life. They stop learning, asking questions, and being curious. They start playing it safe.  

In today’s corporate world there is a big emphasis on having a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset. The growth mindset allows you to learn from each experience you have, regardless of the outcome. The fixed mindset operates in an environment of only attempting those experiences you feel comfortable with, therefore limiting any kind of growth or development.  

Needless to say that organizations prefer candidates with a growth mindset when it comes to management positions. This is backed up by science; showing that people with a growth mindset seek out challenges as growth opportunities, show a greater sense of personal motivation, are inspired by other’s achievements, and see feedback as an opportunity to grow.  Whereas people with a fixed mindset avoid taking risks and fear failure and shame when trying new experiences. They also tend to take feedback personally. 

One of my favorite sayings is “I am still learning” (Michelangelo). Many years ago, I made this mastery mindset my motto. I even framed it as a picture and gave a copy to all my team members when I was working as a Marketing Director. I have never stopped learning and have actively sought opportunities to improve myself on all levels. Physically, mentally, and spiritually. I was a Karate champion in Germany as a teenager and I recently started practicing Karate again after a break of 36 years! This just shows you that it is never too late to practice the concept of mastery. 

So let me ask you a question. When was the last time you committed to learning a new skill and practiced diligently to achieve mastery in anything? If your answer is “not since college or high school”, let me ask you a follow-up question. How is your career going? If you haven’t made progress at the speed you desired, now you know why! What is the next step you are going to take to move towards Mastery? If you need help and support to take that next step, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Coaching is a great tool to move from stuck towards mastery.