As REALTORS or whatever we decide to excel at in our lives, know that we don't "arrive" at the best in our craft without some work. So
Grow Into The Pro You Were Destined To Be
1. Unconscious Incompetent - at first you don't even know how bad you are. This could be considered pathetic at this talent level, but since you are unconscious you feel great.
2. Conscious Incompetent - now you've wised up and are wondering if this field is for you or you should bail. If you stick it out, with practice and education you may head toward being competent.
3. Conscious Competent - Now you know what you are doing. People somewhat expect that you sort of know what you are doing. But you are really going through the motions and can improve much more.
4. Unconscious Competent - You have become the master. You are polished. You the rider, and your horse, your craft are in synch. You can feel that you are on the top of your game. Not that you don't continue working on yourself. But as Tiger Woods says, "You've brought your A game today."
Strive to be the best at what you do. It is challenging, but you will inspire others with your devotion and skill.
Remember the world needs your best.
I like your take on this.
Gary - Some very great points that we all must try to remember. Thanks!
nice, like this angle for what we're all trying to be. some days we're better at it than others.
Hi Gary Excellent Guidance principals for all aspects of our lives. Wonderful and I will save this on derl.icio.us for everyone.
Very good blog Gary. It reminds me of the saying " SOme people make things happen, some watch what happens, and the rest just wander around wondering what happened. Thanks, Keith
The world really does need our best as realtors. People are worried and Realtors who knowingly or unknowingly make errors or deceive people really hurt our industry.
definitely hit it square with this one
Gary, Dead solid perfect, I think that is the golf term.
Gary-It is always good to be the best that you can be. Thanks for putting our thinking caps back on us and helping us to remember what we need to strive for.. Another good blog..
Mel: Thanks Mel.
Robert: You are welcome.
Gary: We keep heading to pro status.
William: Thanks.
Keith: Don't wonder what happens, but make it happen.
Michael: Be the best!!
Matt Malouf: Trying to hit the bullseye.
Tony & Darcy: I like golf terms. Golf is so similar to life.
Laura: Strive to be the best.
Gary, I was just thinking about one of these today. I can't remember where I wrote it but I'm sure I meant conscious competent. I just didn't use the word 'competent" I used something else instead. Anyway, thank you for filling in the blanks for me!!!
Gary that is so true, when you do your best and is really skilled at your craft it can be such an inspiration for others. Getting there does have challenges but with effort it is possible.
Those are great definers - I remember taking a series of seminars with Landmark Education - formerly "Est" that preached those principles........oh so true!
I love this!!
I practiced real estate sales for many, many years before I got my brokers license and went out on my own. Why??
Because I wouldn't practice as a supervising broker (even supervising myself) until I achieved a body of knowledge and experience whereby I knew I didn't need a broker to consult for problems or question.
If I do something I am at being the best. Not second best. I know it takes alot of effort and time but thats all i got.
Gary: Our buyers and sellers always deserve us being on "our A game".
It's hard for some to try to be the best when things are slow but if you give up now then you won't be one of the ones left standing.
This is great. I like to think that in real estate I am in the unconscious competent stage, at least about most things after 23 years! I took a course once that said we all know what we know. We also have an idea of what we don't know. I know I don't know anything about brain surgery, for instance. But there's a whole world out there filled with things that I don't know that I don't know about! Food for thought!
I think the landscape is shifting rather quickly in this business. You HAVE to bring your A-game if you hope to be successful. And that, as Martha Stewart would say, is a good thing.
Mark: Glad to help Mark.
Jennifer: It takes work but it is good to be at the top of your profession skill wise.
Howdy Liz: Nice to know you had seen these principles before.
Lenn: You are right. I think being a broker you should know most all of the answers to train the salespeople up.
Laura: Always shoot for the best!!
Donna: Very true, that our clients deserve absolutely the best from us.
Hello Neal: Stick with it, continuing to be the best even during slower times, and you will be left standing.
Hi Susan: I know you are one of the ones at the top of your game with your experience. There is a lot to learn out there, oftentimes even unknown at first until we discover it. You Susan could easily be a brain surgeon as smart as you are.
Kim: The top ones will be the ones that survive as things continually change.
Gary- Great view on the progression to "the A" game- Once we reach it to the Unconscious Competent stage- we have to keep striving to be better
I think I have finally come from #1 on Activerain...now I push towards #3 & then #4!
Barbara: We never stop learning that is for sure.
Jeremy: You are doing great and getting better every day.
Gary... I love this post and remember when I hit "stage 2"... You really do need to bring your "A" game each and every day... Thank you!
The more things I learn, the less I know (or at my age, remember). I don't know if we ever become the master of any profession because things continually change. When people call me an expert, I scoff. I'm not an expert; I'm just somebody who loves what she does for a living and keeps on doing it.
Debbie: Even at the highest level we have to keep working on ourselves. But it is a very good feeling to sit back and "know" you are the tops at something.
Elizabeth: The difference though, is you WANT to be the best. As long as you have that desire even though we may not be the "perfect" expert we are darn near close to it. We are a pro at what we do. It is a good feeling to reach that level. You just know you're bringing the best to it each day.
Gary, I like to think of FSBO's as unconsious incompetents! Talk about don't know what you don't know!
Gary: Your first category, Unconscious Incompetent is cracking me up. I know so many who resemble this...sadly...after years in the business.
Patricia: FSBOs as unconscious incompetents. The do it yourselfer can get themselves in trouble fast many times for sure.
Chris Ann: Now agents in the business many years as unconscious incompetents, that is truly running a business as a "hobby."
Gary, I loved each and every description, but my favorite was the unconscious competent. I strive to be that and occasionally pull it off, lol. We should all be our best and do our best. Otherwise, why "do it"?
Gary,
My experience supports this theory: "The Peter Principle is the principle that "In a Hierarchy Every Employee Tends to Rise to His Level of Incompetence." Still alive and well today...and 'working'...! Thanks, Fran
Fabulous post Gary! My dad is a psychologist in Dallas and you're right there w/his synopsis. Wonderful recommendations.
Hi Gary...another Great Post, Love your horse photo.
Thanks for sharing!
Gary, I loved the progression that you described here - in very creative terms. Before, I got to the end, I did find myself comparing what you were saying to the stages to a person learning to ride a horse. Hopefully, we all seek to attain the unconscious competent stage in all that we do - whether it is real estate, equestrian activities, golf, painting, or even driving a car.
Elizabeth: Yes, I agree we all want to get to where we are best at our game. And we can do it. Just practice and work at it and you finally know when you're there.
Fran: The incompetence level is when we go that one level "past" where we were really good and can't handle it anymore.
Tracy: Glad you've heard of these little progressions from your Dad before.
Fred: I thought this one with the horse was good because at the elite level horse and rider become one.
Hi Sondra: I liked the equestrian progression as well. You have the beginner riders and then like in Olympic Hunter Jumper that very highest and the best where the rider and the animal are one. We share that understanding with horses. It would be great to be at the top with horsemanship, but it takes years and years of practice.
I love the progression you noted. It makes absolute sense, too! I love being in the "unconscious competent" phase as it means "You Have Arrived!" It means you've put all the hard work and effort into something and have reached a goal. No, you can't now sit back and just soak it all in because you have to keep working to maintain but you CAN look back and see just how far you've come! Thanks for this, Gary!
~Renae