The Art of Being a Beginner

Quote: “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few.”

The Art of Being a Beginner

One of the reasons many people are scared to start something new on their own is that nobody wants to look bad while trying, learning, and potentially failing. But in reality there is a hidden benefit to being a beginner. If you embrace it, you gain a competitive advantage that helps you move through the early stage much faster.

What the world gives beginners

First, there are external advantages, meaning things the world gives you simply because you are an inexperienced beginner. People later in their careers, with years of job experience, are expected to take care of themselves if they want to start a startup, become a writer, or pursue something new. Young, inexperienced beginners basically just have to decide and commit to doing something on their own, and suddenly all kinds of support networks open up. When I started my first project, I had no idea what I was doing, but the amount of help I received just because I asked honestly surprised me.

Some examples include initiatives for young founders such as YFN or Sigma Squared, financial support programs like the Gründungsstipendium or EXIST, and also university startup centers. These programs are often tied to being under a certain age, being a student, or founding your first startup.

Another part of this advantage is that you can ask for as much help as you want. Successful founders, senior people, and investors are often more willing to talk to you simply because you are young and inexperienced. Just reach out, explain what you are doing, show why their experience matters right now, and make a small and concrete ask. The more senior the person is, the simpler the ask should be. Make it as easy as possible for them to help you.

Closely related to this is the simple fact that people love rooting for the underdog. This gives you narrative advantage and goodwill. A very common situation where this helps is when someone asks why they should choose you over a more established company or product. You can say something like:

“Well, for them you are just another number, just another small fish. But for us, you would be our only customer, and I can personally guarantee that I will do everything possible to overdeliver on what we promised. Because for us, having you as a customer truly matters.”

Structural advantages

The other broader category where being a beginner helps is structural advantages, meaning aspects of your situation that simply make starting something new easier.

The reality is that your opportunity costs are much lower. As a young beginner, you usually do not have a family relying on you. You have fewer responsibilities and far fewer expectations placed on you. The only thing you might truly have to give up is some free time. For someone in their forties with a well paid job, starting their own project comes with an entirely different level of opportunity costs and risks.

Another point is that nobody expects perfection from you. You can launch early, move fast, and make mistakes publicly, and it is completely fine. For a management consultant in his forties who starts something new, the external expectation is very different. People expect him to win easily. That pressure can lead to short term thinking, vanity metrics and ultimately hinder the success of his project.

You also have a fresh perspective on things that allows you to see opportunities people with years of industry experience and heads full of conventional wisdom will never notice. This gives you a real chance to spot ideas and innovations they will never find.

Conclusion

Obviously both sides have their advantages when it comes to starting something new, being experienced and being inexperienced. But the simple truth is that right now you probably are an inexperienced beginner. And if that is the case, why not use the advantages that come with it? That being said, the best time to start your own thing might actually be right now, while you still have all the benefits of being a beginner.

That was your cheatcode for this week. Now it’s up to you.

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