9 answers
Dan
Student
Inglewood, California
1
Question
Asked
490 views
How do you become the best at something starting from scratch when there's already people still progressing and are better than you?
N/A I have nothing to add.
8 answers
Alanna Smith
Accounts Receivables-Invoicing
1
Answer
Houston, Texas
Updated
Alanna’s Answer
Hello Dan, I can speak from experience. Go at it with an open mind do not think short of yourself. Learn as much as possible from your co workers also networking helps. Pick up on new skills and maybe find a mentor. Also, communication is key.
Anthany Vitela
Coding
68
Answers
Winter Springs, Florida
Updated
Anthany’s Answer
The secret is that there is no such thing as "The Best" In any area. There may be those who are more experienced than you and have a better understanding of things, but even those people don't know everything; they have people who are above them too. The best thing you can do Is practice and hone your skills, and try to suck up as much knowledge as you can from those who have more experience and can teach you tips and tricks that will help you understand better and grow more.
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1903
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Dan !
The first thing you do is - not worry about it ! Your thoughts stem from wanting to be the best you can be and that is a good mindset to have. You can and will do it even though it seems untouchable right now.
No one is "better than you". Individuality is the most important thing to recognize, especially in oneself. You may be starting out with self-discovery and that means taking active steps towards small goals that lead to big goals. It takes planning and now is a good time to start. Know that you have so much to offer and your journey and mission is to discover in what way you can contribute. Give it time.
Once you meet your educational and career goals, you will see. You will be the one that younger people will look up to as they think gee, I want to be just like Dan. Success doesn't happen overnight, so relax during the process of getting there.
A good way to begin may be to take the active step towards doing volunteer work. Always remember that you have something very important and special to offer, but it can't just be thoughts, you must take action and volunteer work is a wonderful way to start and begin self-discovery, achievement and bringing your contribution to light. You can also explore what may be available in your town based on what your interests are. Even if you have to take a bus now and then into Los Angeles, get out and be active beyond what you may be doing now. Do not let negative ideas from people or media influence you. Form your own opinions and realize that everyone has started out like you - everyone has had that wonder about their future.
So even though messages can make people feel hopeless or less of themselves, you have a stronger force within you to rise above that. Recognize your personal energy and change the worry to action. There is no time limit.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best with starting your new experiences !
The first thing you do is - not worry about it ! Your thoughts stem from wanting to be the best you can be and that is a good mindset to have. You can and will do it even though it seems untouchable right now.
No one is "better than you". Individuality is the most important thing to recognize, especially in oneself. You may be starting out with self-discovery and that means taking active steps towards small goals that lead to big goals. It takes planning and now is a good time to start. Know that you have so much to offer and your journey and mission is to discover in what way you can contribute. Give it time.
Once you meet your educational and career goals, you will see. You will be the one that younger people will look up to as they think gee, I want to be just like Dan. Success doesn't happen overnight, so relax during the process of getting there.
A good way to begin may be to take the active step towards doing volunteer work. Always remember that you have something very important and special to offer, but it can't just be thoughts, you must take action and volunteer work is a wonderful way to start and begin self-discovery, achievement and bringing your contribution to light. You can also explore what may be available in your town based on what your interests are. Even if you have to take a bus now and then into Los Angeles, get out and be active beyond what you may be doing now. Do not let negative ideas from people or media influence you. Form your own opinions and realize that everyone has started out like you - everyone has had that wonder about their future.
So even though messages can make people feel hopeless or less of themselves, you have a stronger force within you to rise above that. Recognize your personal energy and change the worry to action. There is no time limit.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best with starting your new experiences !
Al Fiene
Actor and Clergyperson
12
Answers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Updated
Al’s Answer
Hi Dan,
Everyone starts "from scratch." Even babies are not born already able to walk, talk, and do complex tasks. The people who are in the profession you want to join were once in your exact place. Take classes, get training, get hired in starting positions, find a mentor (or more than one) who is willing to help you.
Everyone starts "from scratch." Even babies are not born already able to walk, talk, and do complex tasks. The people who are in the profession you want to join were once in your exact place. Take classes, get training, get hired in starting positions, find a mentor (or more than one) who is willing to help you.
Abdullah Khalid
3
Answers
Updated
Abdullah’s Answer
There is no replacement to hardwork so i would suggest you to outwork everyone around you “be obsessed or be average”
You learn you fail you learn more you fail more but never let anyone outwork you and so be it you’ll be the best at what you do
You learn you fail you learn more you fail more but never let anyone outwork you and so be it you’ll be the best at what you do
Aman Kumar
Software engineer
161
Answers
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Updated
Aman’s Answer
Hi Dan,
Starting from scratch in any field can be daunting, especially when you see others already excelling. But the truth is, every expert was once a beginner, and it’s entirely possible to carve out your own path to mastery, even against tough competition.
First, focus on developing a robust growth mindset. This means viewing challenges as opportunities to learn rather than setbacks. Take, for instance, someone like Lewis Howes who started with zero connections and minimal resources. Through relentless dedication and a learning mentality, he not only became a well-known author and entrepreneur but is now a leading voice in personal development. Like Lewis, embrace the concept of continuous improvement—set small, achievable goals for yourself that lead to larger, more significant achievements down the line.
Next, immerse yourself in the community related to your chosen field. Whether it's attending workshops, joining online forums, or participating in local meetups, surround yourself with individuals who share your passion. This network becomes invaluable not just for learning new techniques but also for finding a support system. Engaging with those better than you doesn't have to feel intimidating—it should inspire you. Remember, collaboration often leads to greater insights than competition.
Lastly, don’t rush the process. Mastery takes time and perseverance. Take the example of J.K. Rowling. Before she became a bestselling author, she faced numerous rejections. But instead of giving up, she kept writing and believing in herself. Learning consistently and developing resilience against setbacks is crucial. Celebrate your small victories along the way; they all add up. And before you know it, you’ll find yourself progressing faster and gaining confidence in your newfound skills.
Best of luck on your journey, you’ve got this!
Starting from scratch in any field can be daunting, especially when you see others already excelling. But the truth is, every expert was once a beginner, and it’s entirely possible to carve out your own path to mastery, even against tough competition.
First, focus on developing a robust growth mindset. This means viewing challenges as opportunities to learn rather than setbacks. Take, for instance, someone like Lewis Howes who started with zero connections and minimal resources. Through relentless dedication and a learning mentality, he not only became a well-known author and entrepreneur but is now a leading voice in personal development. Like Lewis, embrace the concept of continuous improvement—set small, achievable goals for yourself that lead to larger, more significant achievements down the line.
Next, immerse yourself in the community related to your chosen field. Whether it's attending workshops, joining online forums, or participating in local meetups, surround yourself with individuals who share your passion. This network becomes invaluable not just for learning new techniques but also for finding a support system. Engaging with those better than you doesn't have to feel intimidating—it should inspire you. Remember, collaboration often leads to greater insights than competition.
Lastly, don’t rush the process. Mastery takes time and perseverance. Take the example of J.K. Rowling. Before she became a bestselling author, she faced numerous rejections. But instead of giving up, she kept writing and believing in herself. Learning consistently and developing resilience against setbacks is crucial. Celebrate your small victories along the way; they all add up. And before you know it, you’ll find yourself progressing faster and gaining confidence in your newfound skills.
Best of luck on your journey, you’ve got this!
Simona Zaffaroni-Lucas
Financial Analyst
26
Answers
Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain
Updated
Simona’s Answer
Hello Dan - good question, thanks.
I would move my energies away from the competition and focus on my responsibilities, what I do and what I can do better. I would create my own list of lessons learned based on last month or weeks performance.. analyze what I could have done differently. Check what I can do to improve next time. It is good to have benchmarks or references but I would not stress. And yes of course there may be other people who could be more advanced than us, not just for the age or the years of experience. They may as well be of our age and they may be ahead of us but we should concentrate on our actions. Many tools and systems available too, but what can be a good differentiator vs the rest is our own creativity (that's yours and unique); our point of views or perspective on things that we formulate based on what we observe. Yes someone else may come to the same conclusion - however it is not a race.
It's a long and step by step process whereby you will be measuring mainly against yourself. If you plan on tracking what you do, how much time for research into a specific topic you invest and how you could have done (based on xxx feedback or your own impressions).. with time you will see that there will be a positive evolution vs what you are currently doing. And yes of course ponder and check what the rest does, but don't let that overwhelm your own deliverables. Of all your activities, focus on the things that you get to do easier than the rest and check how else others have done.. not necessarily colleagues.. even other people to have a greater metrics.. and be open minded to ask for help or feedback. These are confidence and maturity signs, you are open to discuss what you do with others and not afraid of receiving comments. When you then sum all up, you will have new facts to analyse and practice for your future tasks.
Good luck!
I would move my energies away from the competition and focus on my responsibilities, what I do and what I can do better. I would create my own list of lessons learned based on last month or weeks performance.. analyze what I could have done differently. Check what I can do to improve next time. It is good to have benchmarks or references but I would not stress. And yes of course there may be other people who could be more advanced than us, not just for the age or the years of experience. They may as well be of our age and they may be ahead of us but we should concentrate on our actions. Many tools and systems available too, but what can be a good differentiator vs the rest is our own creativity (that's yours and unique); our point of views or perspective on things that we formulate based on what we observe. Yes someone else may come to the same conclusion - however it is not a race.
It's a long and step by step process whereby you will be measuring mainly against yourself. If you plan on tracking what you do, how much time for research into a specific topic you invest and how you could have done (based on xxx feedback or your own impressions).. with time you will see that there will be a positive evolution vs what you are currently doing. And yes of course ponder and check what the rest does, but don't let that overwhelm your own deliverables. Of all your activities, focus on the things that you get to do easier than the rest and check how else others have done.. not necessarily colleagues.. even other people to have a greater metrics.. and be open minded to ask for help or feedback. These are confidence and maturity signs, you are open to discuss what you do with others and not afraid of receiving comments. When you then sum all up, you will have new facts to analyse and practice for your future tasks.
Good luck!
John Hand
User Experience Designer
28
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
John’s Answer
Hi Dan,
- Start before you're ready. You can only prepare so much, but it will never compare to actual experience.
- Practice every day. Great painters aren't born great. They're great because they paint a lot. Same with athletes, writers, etc.
- Find your motivation. Every great artist has an inspiration. Find healthy sources of motivation that will keep pushing you to continue and grow.
- Work towards achievable, time-based goals. Determine the next smallest step to move closer to your goal, then do that thing. Small wins will help encourage you to work towards the next goal.
- Don't compare. Remember, everyone who seems like they've got it all figured out is really just making it up as they go along. (See Google's graveyard of discontinued applications).
- Become comfortable with discomfort. Hard things are worth doing, and they're often also often the most rewarding.
- Keep growing. Look for ways to continue to learn and grow your skills. Read books, talk to professionals, listen to podcasts, seek resources online, watch videos, etc. Nobody really knows what they're doing. They just try stuff and see what works. That's where the element of fun/play comes in.
- Find a mentor (or a few). Having someone in your corner can make the world of difference. Be intentional about cultivating a mentor-mentee relationship and clarify what you'd like to get out of it.
- Take rest, then start again. Sometimes breakthroughs happen while you're sleeping, in the bathtub, or when you've stepped away from the problem/work. Those moments are important.
- Practice self care. You are only as good as your last night of sleep, last meal, and your current mental state. Take care of yourself so that you can show up your best.
- Start before you're ready. You can only prepare so much, but it will never compare to actual experience.
- Practice every day. Great painters aren't born great. They're great because they paint a lot. Same with athletes, writers, etc.
- Find your motivation. Every great artist has an inspiration. Find healthy sources of motivation that will keep pushing you to continue and grow.
- Work towards achievable, time-based goals. Determine the next smallest step to move closer to your goal, then do that thing. Small wins will help encourage you to work towards the next goal.
- Don't compare. Remember, everyone who seems like they've got it all figured out is really just making it up as they go along. (See Google's graveyard of discontinued applications).
- Become comfortable with discomfort. Hard things are worth doing, and they're often also often the most rewarding.
- Keep growing. Look for ways to continue to learn and grow your skills. Read books, talk to professionals, listen to podcasts, seek resources online, watch videos, etc. Nobody really knows what they're doing. They just try stuff and see what works. That's where the element of fun/play comes in.
- Find a mentor (or a few). Having someone in your corner can make the world of difference. Be intentional about cultivating a mentor-mentee relationship and clarify what you'd like to get out of it.
- Take rest, then start again. Sometimes breakthroughs happen while you're sleeping, in the bathtub, or when you've stepped away from the problem/work. Those moments are important.
- Practice self care. You are only as good as your last night of sleep, last meal, and your current mental state. Take care of yourself so that you can show up your best.
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