Clarification: It is no longer enough to just be ‘competent’ at what you do. In order to distinguish yourself and truly know success, you need to become a master at whatever you do. This is especially true if you are trying to attract what you want to you. We all want to be around the ‘best in class’.
Key Points:
1. A big component of mastery is innovation.
You don’t just do what you’ve always done. You constantly seek ways to do things better, faster, more efficiently, more effectively.
2. Effective vs. Efficient.
To be efficient means getting the job done in a smart, timely manner. To be effective means getting the ‘right’ job done well, whether efficiently or not. Combining the two is incredibly powerful, but if you have to choose between the two, always choose effective.
3. Learning.
Another component of mastery is learning, both your learning (from everything and everyone around you) and the learning of others. You may be teaching others, or sharing your learning, or just learning what not to do and who not to waste time with because they like things the way they are.
4. Innovation vs. Improvement.
To innovate means to revolutionize, or at least introduce something new and important into the mix. When you improve something, you make what you have better, in small incremental stages. Innovation is evolutionary, which is very attractive.
5. Assimilation vs. Integration.
To assimilate means to absorb, to be nourished by what you are learning, eating or experiencing. Whatever you absorb is incorporated into you.
