What level are you?
As an entrepreneur, the probability of success has a direct correlation to the number of skill sets that you have mastered.
The minute you have mastery over more than one skillset — say Programming AND Marketing, the odds increase non-linearly.
There are levels to doing just about everything. Most of us start at level 0 and operate at level 1 or level 2 skills. But the minute you can switch up to Level 3 and above, the game changes completely.
Let’s say you are a cook:
Level 0 is you learning the basics of cooking, being able to look up a recipe and follow it to the point where there is an edible outcome.
Level 1 would be being able to cook without having to refer to the recipe.
level 2 is when you are comfortable to improvise on the recipe a little — add a few flavors that you like more.
Level 3 is being able to deconstruct the dish and recreate it, keeping the flavour intact but being able to change the form, texture and style. Mastery of technique starts here.
Level 4 is when you are able to think of new recipes that define a cuisine or extend it, with the capability to create and enable your team to operate at Level 3.
If you are a professional, over the course of the week make a mental note of the skills that you use in doing what you do. Note them down and during the weekend, be honest to yourself and grade yourself on the skill level.
To operate on Level 3 skill, you need to be able to look under the hood and see how the system operates on a whole — it is impossible to achieve it without being able to see how everything is connected.
Invest the time and energy — and more so, the focus — on upgrading a few level 2 skills to level 3. Maybe you are a marketer and you are a level 1 or level 2 in writing copy. See how you can step up that game. Having even one or two level 3 skill (eg. Copywriting) in the overall skillset (eg. Marketing) will give you a disproportionate advantage.
If you have more than one skill set with at least one level 3 skill, you are on very good stead as an entrepreneur.
Originally published at https://blackbook.thestartupcentre.com on July 6, 2020.
