You, but better.

7 steps to do what you're doing now. But better.

Following your passion is a bit overwhelming. So start being a better version of you by doing a better version of what you’re doing now.

To help, I’ve put together 7 simple steps to do whatever you’re doing now to a higher level.

Why?

Because you’ll increase your self respect, if I’m honest.

And I say this because it’s what I’ve seen happen. So, once you’re done with performing tasks to a degree of mediocrity that no longer agrees with you, here’s your 7-step to do list.

N.B. The less physical your field, the more this advice will help you. I.e. If your aim is to be an Olympic swimmer, you should get better at swimming by physically swimming, not doing this theoretical 7 step method.

ONE. Pick a (theory dependant) topic

Once you’ve set the intention that you are done with mediocrity. Pick the topic that you intend on excelling at.

Are you hired as a programmer and afraid that AI is coming for the mediocre programmers? Are you a middle manager and are unsure of which management skills you’re implementing as you implement them? Great. That’s your one topic.

Also have the awareness that getting better at this skill will be testing, difficult, long and will require you to engage your brain to learn new things.

Then take solace in this projected hardship being the very thing that other people are avoiding doing. So you can be sure that this is all that stands between you, and Better You.

TWO. Identify three experts

These should be practitioners of what you are trying to accomplish.

Do not conflate high profile with expertise. That is not the same. Ensure that these “experts” have actually got the credentials of having practiced what you are TRYING to accomplish.

Yes, I wrote it twice on purpose so you deep the profile of this person.

These will be your new favourite influencers.

THREE. Go book shopping!

Based on your list of “experts”, find either books written by them, or books recommended by them. I would recommend reading four as a start.

There’s a far-fetched “statistic” that claims we’re all 4 books away from knowing “more than 95% of people about one topic”. While I cannot vouch for its accuracy, we can all agree that most people you meet in your office or your field wont read more than one or two books about what they’re doing.

So four seems like a safe start.

Also, in my experience, by the third or fourth book on a topic a few things will happen:

• you’ll begin to see overlap in common opinions / experiences

• you’ll begin to form your own opinions

• you’ll being to spot what you do not like and what you’d change if you wrote your own book…

So, get reading. Because what you are aiming for, is to build your own subjective value judgement on what “good” looks like in your field.

FOUR. Go down rabbit holes

Remember your new fave influencers?

Find out if they’ve been invited on podcasts, featured on a YouTube interview, given a lecture at a uni, you get the idea. Then consume that. See what else they recommend to consume on the topic. Make this consumption your new normal.

NOTE: Do not be distracted by the production value.

i.e. A “well produced” podcast doesn’t have to be the one with the most valuable information to you. In my experience, the low quality zoom call recording with 500 views is more information rich than a well-produced podcast curated for mass consumption.

This also makes sense if you’re seeking niche knowledge, it’ll be less popular.

Just get used to consuming information about the topic that isn’t geared towards beautiful aesthetic.

You’ll start forming much more robust opinions on your new favourite influencers. You might even rank them unexpectedly in terms of expertise, style, etc. Having some kind of feeling as you’re consuming quality information is a good indicator that you’ve got enough of the basics to form your own thoughts.

FIVE. Practice the entire time

Seriously. Just start practicing before you’re ready.

Implement what you’re learning as you’re reading. Bring it up in meetings, try a new trick with programming, I dunno, just try.

Find different ways to test your understanding that means you’re getting better at your practice. Doing the first four without this step is a weird thing to do, if I’m honest. Not the good kind of weird. The stingy kind.

You’ve come this far, so put into practice what you’re learning AS YOU’RE LEARNING IT.

SIX. IF YOU ARE DELIVERING A SERVICE.

Then read this book: The trusted advisor.

I’m not getting paid to say this. I’m just telling you that this is the best book I’ve read on how to deliver a good professional service. You’ll learn things like

• why you should bother to build trust

• what it takes to build trust professionally

• how to troubleshoot difficult client relations

the list goes on.

Just read it. Cover to cover.

SEVEN. Sell your services like a copywriter

Just read 1 book. This one.

It’s very good. It’ll tell you everything you need to know. It’s written in a way that’s so easy to read you’ll barely have time to notice you’ve read anything.

If you don’t want to read the whole thing, then the first (very short) 18 chapters will help you enough.

Once you’re done

Pick a passion. Something beyond your circumstance.

Learning something that you want to learn not in your current trajectory is what changes you.

This list of 7 things was just to prove to yourself that you can be above the line of mediocrity that you had been alright with.

As I mentioned when I invited you to pick a goal that you actually want to accomplish and then really work towards it. Pick a thing and try to accomplish it. I triple dare you.