How to become a pro at anything

TV presenters and writers, musicians and beauticians, comedians dancer, speaker, chefs and film makers etc. we all want to know how to get better at what they do to become a pro at what they do.

But becoming an expert in a field isn’t easy but it is simple. It can take a lifetime of experience in a field or several certifications to become a true expert in some areas.

If you’re willing to stretch your wings a little bit and follow a few steps, you can have others calling you an expert in your field in no time.

Here are the tips to becoming an expert and you, too, can revitalize your current position, or begin an exciting journey toward a new you.

START WITH SOMETHING YOU LOVE AND PASSION FOR:

Starting with a topic that you love makes life a lot easier on you. Not only do you likely already know a great deal about it, but it’s something you’ll be eager to sink your teeth into and to the required work.

So start with a topic you enjoy but one that seems to be relatively under-served online. This can literally be anything from a favorite author to hobby you love, but it has to be something you enjoy that’s somewhat obscure and interesting.

However, if what you are currently doing no longer interests you; you'll need to figure out what does. Make this your first priority. Whatever route you take, what you choose to be an expert in has to be inspiring so that the necessary reading and learning seem effortless to you because it resonates with every fiber of your being. Everyone has one--some have more than one--you just need to find it.

COMMIT YOURSELF INTO IT

Once you’ve picked something, start throwing yourself into the topic. Spend at least an hour or two a day thinking about, doing, participating in or otherwise being involved with your topic area. This can include reading news in your field, practicing what it is you want to do or going to events related to it.

Studying--reading books, online courses, attending college, watching videos, attending seminars and training programs, learning from other experts within the field.

Practicing--actually doing what you are learning. As in the above example of a website designer, you can apply what you have learned by creating websites on your own. By practicing what you learn, you are going much deeper into what it takes to be an expert in that field--working out the kinks, investigating and solving problems not covered through studying and instruction alone.

Presenting--finding ways to document your findings. Create a blog or journal of the steps you are taking to understand the many facets of your newfound expertise. Write or speak at a conference about the trials and the resolutions so that others can learn from you. Teaching what you have learned to others will push you even further toward your goal of mastering your new field.

DO IT CONSISTENTLY

Normally if you have a strong desire to learn about a specific subject or activity it is because 1) you like doing it or 2) you are motivated by the benefits that it can bring you (e.g. great salary, promotion, respect). In most cases people who do what they enjoy are good at it, because they already have a natural inclination towards this subject/activity, which automatically increases their chances to succeed. This is an ideal situation. In real life we are often required to learn something that we do not like or are not naturally good at. What to do in this case? Step aside and forget about our goal? Not necessarily…

As it turns out, all it takes to succeed is regular practice. practice can make anyone a top performer in pretty much any field, from business to sports to music. And guess what? Inborn talent is not required! All that counts is your determination and constant desire to improve.

ASSOCIATE WITH OTHER EXPERTS

Find others in the field that you respect and link to them. Ideally, they may link back to you or even want to work with you some, but even if that doesn’t happen immediately, showing that you know who the other bright minds in the field are and that you’re comfortable linking to them is a huge asset.

In short, by linking to other bright minds in the field, you’re not only getting their attention (and hopefully a few links to your stronger pieces) but also showing your knowledge of the people in your field and proving that you understand the who as well as the what.

Find yourself a teacher. No matter how hard you try to become good at something you are going to need someone to show you how to do it, whether this is a mentor, coach or traditional teacher. Find someone that is as good as you want to be and get them to teach you.