Are you an amateur or an expert?

A rookie or a professional?

I’m no psychic, but I already know the answer -- you’re an expert, a professional!

Now for the tough part: do you know what the difference is?

Let’s also put aside the obvious difference for now -- money. 

If you’re able to master the changes in perception and mindset, the money will follow. 

To avoid reading this article with money on the mind, let's start with the definitions of amateurs and experts with no mention of dollar:

Amateur or rookie: a person lacking in knowledge, with a low level of skill in a broad range of areas.
Expert or professional: a person who is very knowledgeable and skillful in a focused area.

I discovered this list on Farnham Street’s blog and loved it so much that I elaborated on it for this blog article. 

If we mapped the qualities of an amateur and expert onto a scale, with one at each end, what would that list look like?

Let’s dive in closer to each of these points to uncover how to develop your skills or mindset to move from amateur to expert.

Amateurs stop when they achieve something.
Experts understand that initial achievement is just the beginning.

Just as the first concept is usually the worst, the initial achievement is just the first hurdle in a longer race.

Experts understand that not all achievements are created equally, the best achievements are often just over the last few hurdles in the race.

So don't fall at the first hurdle!

Amateurs have a goal.
Experts have a process.

To start a project with a goal suggests you already know what will happen and the outcome of your project.

How many projects have you been on when the goals change or just working on the project brings to light new insights that change everything?

This happens all the time, and that's a good thing.

Locking in a goal from the beginning limits your ability to adapt to these changing circumstances.

Instead of a goal, have a direction -- a north star, something to aim for.

Experts know that the best way to follow their project’s north star is to have a process.

A process is a flexible but repeatable structure that allows you to develop unseen insights to deliver on goals that you didn't even know were part of the project.

For more on process, check out my other article, How to Defeat Creative Block.

Amateurs give up at the first sign of trouble and assume they’re failures.
Experts see failure as part of the path to growth and mastery.

Fear of failure is commonplace in the creative industry, but it must be embraced to further grow your knowledge and skill base.

Change your perception of the word fail to mean First Attempt In Learning, and you will see a positive change in your mindset. 

This then opens you up to embracing failure as part of your journey towards being a master of your craft.

You choose to fail, just like you choose to persevere.

Amateurs show up to practice - to have fun.
Experts realise what happens in practice - happens in games.

Everyone knows that practice makes perfect. 

That's why sports teams run drills over and over -- to ensure everything runs smoothly come game time.

Experts see practice as a way to refine the way you work, each time tweaking it for the better. 

Practicing highlights any issues to be overcome before the big game.

Experts still have fun practicing, but it is seen as part of the learning process.

Amateurs focus on identifying their weaknesses and improving them.
Experts double on their strengths and surround themselves with people who are strong where they are weak.

Experts usually follow the T structure for their skill base, a broad knowledge across a subject, but a real depth in a very focused area.

I can’t explain the T structure for skill base any better than Chris Do’s Instagram Post here:

Strengths take time to develop and master, and time is a scarce but valuable commodity in modern life. 

Expertise takes thousands of hours to develop, but there are some shortcuts.

Experts realise the shortcut to obtaining other strengths is to surround yourself with people who are strong in those areas.

Not only do you get the instant boost of their strengths, but over time, being around these people will result in their knowledge and skills rubbing off on you. 

Then, you can begin developing a new set of strengths.

Amateurs think good outcomes are the result of brilliance.
Experts understand when good outcomes are from luck.

Understanding when your brilliance is just luck is part of the journey from amateur to expert.

One of the big differences between amateurs and experts is in how they achieve outcomes -- experts don’t wait for some kind of divine inspiration or luck to strike.

They do the work!

They apply their process over and over to ensure that good results are achieved every time -- essentially creating their own luck.

Amateurs focus on tearing other people down.
Experts focus on making everyone better.

Tearing other people down helps no-one, and it certainly doesn't help the project.

Amateurs tend to focus on the problem or person and never move beyond it.

Experts diagnose the problem and move beyond it, prescribing a solution.

Instead of tearing down a person, look further afield and try to uncover why they are doing what they are doing.

If you can understand that, you are one step closer to making everyone a better professional.

In summary: don’t be a dick.

Amateurs blame others.
Experts accept responsibility.

Many of us have lofty ideas of gaining responsibility in our work and the rewards that follow, but few realise that this is a double-edged sword.

Taking responsibility for the good and the bad is a sign of mastery or your craft and yourself.

When you blame others for issues, you alienate your team and become untrustworthy. 

People begin to wonder when they will be thrown under the bus next.

The blame game destroys work culture, if your team doesn’t trust each other, then you will struggle to collaborate effectively and creatively.

Amateurs show up inconsistently.
Experts show up consistently.

This is a biggie -- consistency is the key to success in everything.

Consistency reduces risk and builds trust.

Trust is the cornerstone of any brand, business or project.

If your audience, consumers or clients don't trust you, you can't build a good relationship.

A good relationship is like the oil in an engine -- it keeps everything lubricated and moving as it should -- remove the oil and everything seizes up and begins to wear away.

A proven way to consistency in your work is to create and implement a process. 

A process is repeatable and reliable and means you are able to shift from selling outcomes to selling your thinking.

This idea of selling your thinking or process is firmly where the expert lives, and it is where all the money and true fulfilment is.

Amateurs go with the first idea that comes to them.
Experts realise the first idea is usually the worst.

When problem-solving, it's human nature to go for the easiest option: the fastest path, the one with the least resistance.

For someone looking for innovative solutions, the first idea is usually the most obvious, and often the worst.

It's the worst because the first idea is often a knee-jerk reaction, not considering the full scope of the problem or the resulting fallout of your solution.

Experts realise the strength of the idea or solution is in its ability to stand up for your research and against ruthless testing and questioning.

Amateurs think in absolutes.
Experts think in probabilities.

"Only a Sith deals in absolutes", as someone said a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

You can never truly and absolutely know anything -- the world is constantly changing place.

Experts understand this and focus on creating the Best Possible Solution or idea for that specific time on the information available. 

Nothing is ever perfect, and we all know that a finished project is better than an unfinished one waiting for perfection.

There is always room and time for improvement.

Blair Enns says in his book Win Without Pitching Manifesto:
“Expertise is the only valid basis for differentiating ourselves from the competition”

The main reason to pursue a path of expertise is positioning.

Strong positioning for you or your business, is the key to success. 

Strong positioning empowers you or your business to differentiate, to stand out from your competition, which, in turn, allows you to command a price premium for your products for services. 

This dramatically reduces or eliminates the competition -- a win-win for any career or business.

The journey from amateur to expert is a long and challenging one. 

There is no real shortcut -- just consistent good work -- but it will be worth it!

I hope this blog has helped light the way in your journey to becoming an expert.

Special thanks to Farnham Street for inspiring this blog, and Chris Do for sharing it so that I could discover it, add my own twist and share it with you all.