10 Life changing Lessons Nr.4 – Mastery

Over the last 25 years I have seen some common denominators among owners of businesses. What are they and why are these so important when you want to succeed in business?

The first 3 life changing lessons that business owners grasp are:

1. They have a story to tell.

2. They know who they are.

3. They know where they are going.

Your life and business is intertwined into being a journey of growth from being a student to a professional to a master in your trade. The modern fast changing world in which we find ourselves, requires one to master your profession if you want to become a game changer.

Malcolm Gladwell uses the term “outlier” in his book with the same title to define those who “are different from all other members of a particular group”. An outlier then is someone who operates at the extreme outer edge of what is statistically plausible.

The Mentorship program that I take people on, includes a session on “MASTERY”, i.e. a growth process that helps you to understand where you find yourself currently, to where you want to be, i.e. to become a MASTER and even an artist in your trade.

The following 5 levels plot the journey en-route to become a master and beyond:

1. The Student

I can well remember that after receiving my degree I thought “now I can conquer the world”. It was only later that I discovered that academic studies only provide one with the ability to find out where to get more information when you need it.

The “student” level is the very first step towards mastery. This is the level where you discover your talents and skills. You become aware of the masters in your trade and here they become your role-model. A student spends about 5000 training hours over 5 years before this level is completed.

2. The professional

As a youngster I was intrigued with the term “professional golfer” and “professional hunter”. In my mind I thought these were the persons at the top of their trade, just to discover that there are many professionals that were not as good as the term “professional” indicated to my young mind.

A professional is only a student that gets paid for the work he does. He constantly produces products/services that someone is willing to pay for. In the European guilds model a professional worked for about five years for a master before he could move on to the next level.

3. The Traveler

A professional had to work for at least five to seven years for a master after which it was then expected of him to travel to other countries in Europe to develop his creativity further.

Today professionals do not stay within a company long before moving on, and this in itself is fine as these people seek out their next challenge, BUT do people learn enough from a company before moving on? Is sufficient mentorship and guidance offered to make sure the professional has acquired the necessary innovation before they move on to new “territory”.

4. The Master

To be recognized as a master, one needs to have one’s own unique style. Here you have established yourself as an entrepreneur, i.e. one who identifies other students and encourages them to set up their own business or craft. A master is a talented individual who serves as an example for others in the trade. A master has the confidence to serve as a mentor and coach for others.

5. The Artist

It is not every master that has the talent to become an Artist. The road to mastery is long and it is not every master that will become an Artist. For the Artist his trade has become part of his very being. An Artist inspires a whole province and even nations. Artists have international influence and set new standards. This is not easy and therefore Artists are hard to find.

What next?

Take some thought on these 5 levels and answer the following questions that will encourage you to move on to the next level:

• Where do you find yourself currently in your business?

• What can you do to develop to the next level?

• Is there someone on a lower level that you can mentor to take them to the next level?