Embarrassment is the cost of entry.
Building any skill takes time and effort. And when you start, there's a good chance you're bad at it. Which is why most people try something, aren't very good, and quit. They assume they aren't cut out for it.
Sometimes that's true. But more often, it's not a talent problem. It's a mindset problem.
Utah Athletics has a framework they call the "Get Better" Mindset. On a big sign in their athletic department, they remind athletes of the following affirmations:
I will invest the time and be tenaciously persistent.
I understand that discomfort is part of the process.
If I avoid discomfort, I prevent learning.
I will make mistakes, and they will teach me.
I want feedback and coaching.
Simple. But powerful.
And here's the thing, the “Get Better” mindset and the accompanying affirmations aren't just for college athletes.
Want to be a leader? Get Better. A golfer? Get Better. A salesperson? Get Better.
Now here is the best part. Most people won't have this mindset. So by simply adopting it, you'll pass people with more potential than you, just because you were willing to persevere through the embarrassment and the suck.
That's the edge. It's not talent. It's tolerance for being bad on the way to being good.
Accept being bad at the beginning, so you can be on a journey of getting good.
P.S. The Optimistic Outlook is a Podcast! Leaving a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts would mean a lot.
Use Your Gifts,
John Eades
Creator, The Leadership Lens & The Optimistic Outlook