Mastery vs Amateurism: The Human Journey of Mastery in a Changing World
Mastery is not the destination, but the continuous journey of perfecting a craft while staying open to learning new ones.
QUOTE:
"In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few."
Shunryu Suzuki
Our Friday Discussion
Hello, Happy New Month! Today, let’s dive into an interesting contradiction that many of us face: pursuing mastery while embracing the ever-changing nature of the world. This reflection will help us understand how to balance these two mindsets effectively.
There’s something admirable about a master - someone who has dedicated themselves to perfecting one craft, skill, or art until they are exceptional. In contrast, amateurs often find themselves pulled in many directions, learning a little of everything without ever perfecting one thing.
But the journey of mastery, though rewarding, has its limitations. They hold a disadvantage - the inability to continuously adapt and remain flexible in a world that’s always changing.
Mastery is about focus. Masters are not scattered or distracted; they commit to one path, one art, and perfect it through repetition. On the other hand, the amateurs often flits between different skills, never staying long enough to perfect any.
The master’s strength lies in his/her dedication, which produces excellence and mastery of a singular craft. However, the amateur’s behaviour is driven by fear - the fear of never being enough, never catching up to perfection. They feel as though they have to learn everything to be competent.
While, we praise mastery, there is also a downside to being solely focused. In our constantly evolving world, a master can become obsolete if they cling too tightly to one skill or knowledge set. The thing they mastered today may not be relevant tomorrow.
The pace of change is rapid, and those who stop learning can find themselves left behind.
This is where the amateur has an advantage - their willingness to explore new things keeps them adaptable and open to new opportunities. But what they often fail to realize is that mastery is built on consistency and practice, not in the quantity of knowledge but the quality of repetition.
The question is, how do we balance the depth of mastery with the breadth of amateur learning? That is how do we commit ourselves to mastering one craft through discipline and repetition, and also maintain the mindset of/for constant learning?
The answer lies in adopting the mind of an amateur with the posture of a master. We must always be willing to grow, not because we are insufficient, but because we live in a world that demands growth. It’s a lifelong process of surpassing our own previous achievements and embracing new challenges.
💡 As we seek mastery, we should never forget that we are, in many ways, eternal amateurs, constantly in the process of learning, growing, and evolving. Our pursuit, focus, and dedication should be accompanied by the humility of knowing that we will never truly arrive, and that’s okay.WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHT:
Do you consider yourself more of a master or an amateur in your current pursuits?
How can you combine the depth of mastery with the openness of an amateur mindset in your career or personal life?
What is one area where you can take action today to grow, either by honing a skill or learning something new?
DEEPER DIVE:
"You can never be too good at something to stop learning about it." - Robin Sharma
Mastery by Robert Greene (Book)
Mindset: The new psychology of success by Carol S. Dweck (Book)
P.S.: Feel free to reply, critique, and discuss any topic with me at hortharn@substack.com. I am always delighted to reply.
Be Determined, Stay Focus,
Ekerete Lord-kris.
(Hortharn)