The Power of Mastering the Basics

Every driven person I know or have known consistently pushes themselves to the next level.  However, I have seen too many fall back down due to one simple and often forgotten fact; they did not master the basics.

Mastering the basics is paramount to your success.  It does not matter whether you are striving to become a chess champion, golf pro, are trying to build a profitable business or wanting to make it to worlds in cheerleading, a solid foundation is crucial to whatever accomplishment you are attempting.  Do not waste your precious time getting lost in the details (which is very easy to do), stick to the basics and you can win big.

Don’t get me wrong, I know that the real experts in any field of endeavor can do some pretty incredible things that the beginner cannot do…yet. But remember, the significant difference between an expert and a novice is simply that the expert has become better and more effective at the basic skills and tasks that are fundamental, thus freeing him or her up to do more advanced skills and tasks because they have mastered the basics.

Let me try and give you a simple example that hopefully will illustrate what I am trying to convey here.  I have a daughter that is in All-Star competitive cheerleading.  During competitions a big component that can make the difference between a team placing first and fifteenth is tumbling.  I have watched many a team execute some amazing human pyramids and partner stunts – throwing girls and guys around in eye popping sequences only have their overall performance ranked low due to a basic element in cheer… tumbling.  As I watch many of them and talk to coaches they need to get back to the basics – like handstands.  Yep something as simple as mastering a handstand can have great impact on their tumbling.  If you think about it a handstand, or a variation thereof is foundation of tricks like, cartwheels, round-offs, front/back walk-overs, ariel walk-overs (where their hands do no touch the ground), front or back handsprings etc.   So as you can see this one very basic skill. if not mastered, greatly drags down any of the ‘big’ or ‘fun’ skills everyone enjoys seeing and these wonderful athletes love doing.  Every good coach or mentor will make sure they master the basics and keep them mastered as they build up to their ‘big’ and ‘fun’ skills.
Here are three simple ideas about how to master the basics in your field of choice. Keep up with these, master the basics, and real success will surely to follow.

 

1. Expect mastery. First and foremost you have to expect success.  You will exceed your own objectives, so expect great things from yourself. If you're taking up cheerleading, tell yourself that are going to make it to worlds. If you are trying to be a comedian then belief you can be the next Jim Carrey. While this may or may not end up becoming fact, simply by adopting this approach, you will remove any self-imposed psychological ceiling on your level of achievement.  You will only rise to the height in which you believe.


2. Learn, Do, And Teach.  If you want to become good you have to learn, to become better you have to do.  The more you do, and do right, the better you will become.  Then to speed your mastery teach the skill to someone else. In order to teach you will need to know the skill so thoroughly that you can explain it to anyone.  When teaching you can see the other person’s stumbling block(s) and help to resolve them – this will keep you keenly mindful as to whether you have/had those same stumbles.


3. Think about the long-term. Today’s reinforced foundation is tomorrow grand structure.  Like the cheerleaders I mentioned earlier, many people want to rush through the basics to get to the more fun and interesting skills and information. Perhaps they believe that the more advanced skills are where real power lies. They see the Jim Carey’s of the world making people laugh but forget that the mastery of something as basic as timing is key to his success.  With mastery of the basics, you can build huge successes. And to excel at the advanced work, you must first know where to start.
   
   
   
   • For example, if you don't understand the basics of chess, you are never going to have the foundation to support understanding the finer nuances of the game. I would also your ability to truly enjoy the game if you do not understand those nuances.
   
   
   • Professional golfers spend the majority of their off-season doing nothing but perfecting the basics. They have a coach who works with them on their golf swing. That's largely all they do. How many times have they already swung a club in their lives?
   
   
   • Also, remember that the guy instructing the professional golfer can’t play golf as well as the professional he’s teaching! He just knows how the swing works, which is the foundation of all of the advanced skills.  (Remember: Learn, Do, Teach)
   
   
   
   


4. Avoid getting fancy. Always question the assumption that the solution to your current challenge is complicated. Ask yourself if the problem is really the result of a shortcoming in one or more basic skills. Rarely is some fancy technique going to be the answer.
   
   
   
   • If you can't boil an egg well, a space-age pot isn't going to help you become a better chef. If you can't strike a golf ball well, a $2,000 set of new golf clubs isn't going to do much to improve your golf game.  (

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