What the Fortune Cookie Reminded Me About Mastery

After a delicious New Year's Day meal at  Typhoon Asian Fusion Bistro in Delaware, Ohio I opened the fortune cookie for a pearl of wisdom. "ALL THINGS ARE DIFFICULT BEFORE THEY ARE EASY." It's a phrase that we've all likely heard before, but the cookie was a good reminder nonetheless.

The phrase holds a lot of truth. Whether it's learning a new skill, tackling a difficult task, or trying to improve ourselves in some way, it's natural to feel overwhelmed or frustrated at the outset. It takes time, effort, and often a lot of practice to truly master something.  

But it's important to remember that this initial difficulty is just a temporary hurdle. With perseverance and a willingness to put in the work, we can overcome these challenges and eventually achieve ease and #mastery.  

As a technologist, I know that learning a new framework or #technology stack can be daunting. The journey to master #aws has been one of the most challenging journeys of mastery I have ever been on due to the breadth and depth of the framework. It takes countless hours of practice to get to a point where the skill flows effortlessly. But with each repetition, I get a little bit better and a little bit more confident. And eventually, that a formerly challenging technology becomes easy, allowing me to continue to increase my mastery by gaining additional breadth and depth in that skill.

The same is true for any other skill or task that we undertake. Whether it is learning to cook a new dish, taking up a new hobby, or working on a personal goal, the road to mastery is rarely a straight and easy one. But with dedication and a willingness to put in the effort, we can overcome these difficulties and eventually achieve success.  

So the next time you're feeling frustrated or overwhelmed by something, remember that "ALL THINGS ARE DIFFICULT BEFORE THEY ARE EASY." It may take time and effort, but with practice and dedication, you can overcome any obstacle and achieve mastery.