In the beginning, be a beginner

I'll admit it. I have historically been terrible at being a beginner. I'm impatient and want to jump at least to intermediate, if not expert. My ego doesn't want to see itself at the beginning, clueless stage of anything.

That's something I have worked to overcome, and still it pops up. Thankfully, I'm more conscious of it these days.

I'm having a chance to practice it yet again with my drumming. It is such a temptation to pretend to be better than I am (that is, to pretend I have a clue when I really don't). I have enough natural talent for it that it's possible I might even be able to fake it, bypassing what feels like the "simpleton phase."

I'm resisting the urge though. If there is one thing I've learned in years of chafing at the notion of being a beginner in anything, it's that natural talent and ability may get me gratifying results in the short term, but it hurts me in the long run. In the long term, bypassing the beginner stage means I don't build the solid foundation I need, and I develop countless bad habits along the way that could have been curbed.

It's the same with anything you attempt. Next time you find yourself reluctant to revel in your beginner's status, whether that's because of ego or impatience (or both), remind yourself that immersing yourself in a state of beginning will build a foundation that will lead you to much greater long-term success than trying to impress yourself and others with how fast you progress.

--

Curt Rosengren

Passion Catalyst  ^SM

Career passion e-books

Comments

[Terrence Seamon]

Hi Curt.

I just surfed in from Michael's blog where he wrote about your "being a beginner" entry.

I can relate!

Being a beginner is rough on the ego. But it also brings you the wisdom of knowing what you do not know.

It's quite revealing. You feel naked, vulnerable.

Terry

[Armand Rousso]

True to the last nail, Curt!

How do we then allow ourselves to say 'I made a mistake, but it's ok! One lovely quote i read somewhere goes like this: 'It's better to ask a dumb question than to remain dumb forever'....Every beginner makes this mistake of hesitating and not wanting to reveal his lack of knowledge, knowhow, skill, expertise.........not realizing that if he doesn't ask now, he will never know the bare stories, the real answers.

It's crazy how we all want to prove we know everything, and strangely this urge is more so in people who don't know anything!

I am a strong proponent of taking it a step each in life, learning everything possible and then moving on, at a pace which suits our temperament and natural disposition. If we hurry up, it might be too late to catch up with what we missed on the way!

Armand Rousso

[Cojak]

I am on the same side as Armand Rousso on that topic.