The Curious Amateur

You don’t get to call yourself an expert. Just like you cannot call yourself a great driver, others must bestow upon you the honor of being deemed an “expert.” If you have to pronounce yourself as an expert, there is still much to learn. The “experts” in their field who rise above everyone else are people who never let their self-image get in the way. Their hunger is never satisfied for how much they can learn or improve. These people consider themselves students of the art in whatever field they are in. They care so deeply about constantly learning, iterating, and improving that the field in which they operate is much more than just a field of study, it’s their artwork—their life’s work. These fields aren’t independent pieces of their lives, they are pieces of their lives that give their life purpose. The best “expert” is never only an expert and is almost always someone who adopts the mindset of a curious amateur.

Someone who calls themselves an expert is someone who believes they have reached the mountaintop. This is someone who believes they have accomplished all they can and learned all that is to be learned. These people will be left in the rearview mirror by the “experts” who are evolved “curious amateurs.” The curious amateur is so hungry for the pursuit of success and embracing the journey that they never stop learning. They continue to pursue growth and continue to iterate on everything they know. The curious amateur never starts as an expert but by sticking to this mindset and pursuit of success and knowledge they ultimately find what they are looking for.

The best coaches consider themselves students in the art of coaching. They study coaches who have come before them, new techniques to deploy, and different motivational tactics and emotional levers to pull. The best coaches never lose the edge being that curious amateur brings them.

The best investors consider themselves students in the art of investing. They study from mentors and investing legends, break down strategies of those who have garnered success, and always ask for more information about any potential opportunity. The best investors never lose the edge being that curious amateur brings them.

A curious amateur is a person who realizes if they ever stop learning, it is time to move on. Knowledge is powerful and the quest and journey for knowledge is endless. The fun the curious amateur has is by always aiming to push the boundary and continuing to unlock doors that were previously barricaded shut. Don’t strive to call yourself an “expert.” Strive never to lose the edge being a “curious amateur” brings you.