The Key to Moving Beyond Amateur

As a nation whose identity is entrenched in DIY thinking, we tend to glorify anyone who is ‘self-taught’.

Teaching yourself is certainly a great way to start begin learning a skill. However, there is a down-side which is not often talked about.

At some point, those that are self-taught reach a ceiling in their performance.

And without the input or coaching of others, they’re unable to ever progress beyond amateur status. 

The truth is that in order for a human-being to realise their potential they’re physiologically and psychologically coded to require the input of other human beings.

As much as we like to think we’re objective and all-seeing, we’re not. Our blind spots, and inability to experience things from outside our own senses causes us to consistently miss cues that others easily identify.

This is why you rarely see an elite athlete without an entourage of coaches. Why you won’t see a world class orchestra without a conductor or a professor without a group of fellows to critique her work.

Unfortunately, the business community in New Zealand is largely self-taught, and most business owners lack the external input required for high levels of success.

Should it be any surprise then, that our stats suggest we’re playing to an amateur level at best?

• 50% failure rate in the first 4-years

• 98% <$5M turnover

• 30% <50k net profit

• 2.2% median growth rate

The truth is, it takes a great deal of time and energy to move beyond amateur level at anything (including business). That is why I expect those statistics to remain largely the same over the next decade.

One thing is for sure though, if you do want to move beyond amateur status, then you will need a coach.

And the sooner you do that, the sooner you will break through your ceiling of performance.