In college, I developed an interest in photography, and I bought a Nikkormat 35mm camera. At the time, it was Nikon’s lower-end product, but it still was nicer than a Polaroid or other instamatic camera.
Back then, gaining “experience” with a 35mm camera was expensive. There was no display to instantly determine if your photo was blurry or clear. There certainly were no in-camera editing tools. You really didn’t know how well you had done until you got the film developed—and sometimes that took weeks. As a result, gaining photographic experience came at a high price.
I tried to get better but never really understood how to use the various settings on my camera. I even took a continuing education photography class at the local community college, but I didn’t see a whole lot of improvement and I stopped trying.
So here I am 40 years later still taking amateurish photos. My approach? I take as many photos as possible with the camera on my phone, knowing that, eventually, one of them will be a keeper.
Becoming a More Professional Professional
I think the same thing happens to some people in business. They start out in a particular field, and they master the basics of whatever they do. Then they never get better. Some never even try. They pursue little—if any—professional development unless they are in an industry that requires continuing education like a CPA, engineer, teacher or physician.
They perform at the same basic level year after year after year until they are a 50-something-year-old employee with the skills of a 22-year-old who’s brand-new to business. (But truth be told, that newcomer might start off with more marketable skills.)
I don’t think anyone consciously decides to be average, but that’s what can happen if you stay on autopilot. Having an annual or ongoing professional development plan can be a great tool to keep you progressing.
Keep Moving Forward
We all start off in whatever we do as amateurs with lots to learn. The key is to progress to become professionals—or something very close. But that requires continuous development and practice and a real desire to learn. Malcolm Gladwell, the business thought leader and author of multiple books, says it takes approximately 10,000 hours to truly master something. I believe it. I also believe that experience makes you better—but only if you get “evaluated” experience. Accountability is important.
Bottom line: Strive to get better, and do it every day. Try something new. Check out a new educational blog or podcast. Read books. Go to conferences. Take a class. Seek out a mentor. Do things that make you uncomfortable, and you’ll do what you do better.