have you been watching the Olympics? i have.
i spent the good part of my weekend watching athletes from all over the world, trying to make their dreams come true. win a gold medal.
did you see the Queen and James Bond jump out of the helicopter during the opening ceremony? classic British humor, don’t you think?. Mr Bean’s Chariots of Fire segment was hilarious and the fireworks was awesome too!
i dont’ watch TV usually but past weekend was an exception because: 1) Olympics happen only every four years 2) i want to support our teams.
but the most important reason why i watch the Olympics is because i find athletes fascinating. i enjoy learning about their training, their personal stories – the hurdles, triumphs, tragedies in some cases, to get to the Olympics. i find the human stories amazing and the sacrifices they made to reach their goals utterly impressive.
imagine how many hours they practiced to make it to the Olympics? how hard they trained and what they sacrificed to qualify, never mind win a medal?
it’s fascinating to think a person can dedicate her/his life to become the best in one thing. Malcolm Gladwell studied athletes and extraordinary experts in various fields his book Outliers (affiliate link) that describes the 10,000 hour theory. According to Gladwell, opportunities matter but “it is practice, however, that makes perfect. The best way to achieve international stardom is to spend 10,000 hours honing your skills.”
well, that makes sense, doesn’t it? Olympic athletes didn’t get there by practicing part time or at night after their day job. or on weekends. they had to practice a lot. i mean, a lot, everyday!
“The greatest athletes, entrepreneurs, musicians and scientists emerge only after spending at least three hours a day for a decade mastering their chosen field.” – Malcolm Gladwell
also, the other aspect of Outliers is that you have to stand out among the best masters to be the expert. anyone can be a master if they practice. but you have to be better than a master, to stand out – to be an expert. ask any olympian. a master can qualify for the Olympics. an expert will win a medal.
so i ask you, now that you know why you want to have a business, are you a master or an expert in your business?
you see, it’s not enough to be able to operate a sewing machine or know how to mix paint colors or use a paint brush.
you have to use your tools to practice making that specific item you are selling. if you sell bags, you have to practice sewing bags and not blankets. if you sell landscape paintings, you have to practice painting landscapes and not portraits.
if you are not confident with your skills, hone your skills by taking classes. get better. practice every day. only then, you (your item) will stand out from other sellers. you’ll be the master in your field. maybe even an expert.
if you can’t take an actual class, you can take an online class like Crafsy and learn tricks that you forgot or didn’t know. you can also check out your local community college for Continuing Education programs. or there are private classes like 3rdward.
whatever you use, get better in your craft. be a master in your field. strive to become the expert in your business.
how many hours a day do you practice your skill?