Build Your Skills: Learning Just the Next Step
Introduction
Do you ever marvel at the incredibly detailed work of a favorite artist, or wonder what sorcery led them to decorate like a pro, or build that elaborate dining room table set? When someone blows us away with their finished product, it's really hard to picture how they got there, or how we could do something similar. In fact, our brains often just think, "Forget it!" and we assume we could never do that.
There's that amazing sculptor you follow, or that friend who can make incredible cakes, or your Mom who can whip up a skirt on the sewing machine in 20 minutes. Sure, it would be cool to be able to do that. But who has the time?! A girl has to eat and sleep every once in a while, you know? So instead, we make passively jealous comments like, "Oh, I could never do that. I'd love to learn, but there's just no time!"
We're going to figure this out, because you deserve to have that amazing feeling of "I did it!" And you definitely deserve to spend time doing something new, adventurous, interesting or, hey, fun. If it feels frivolous, remember - it's good for your brain! Therefore it's good for your overall health and life!
Read to the end to join my 5-day challenge and take that first step!
Are we born with talent?
Or does it come from steadily building skills? And even if it’s a little bit of both, which perspective is more helpful in our every day lives?
Why Skill-Building Matters: Debunking the Talent Myth
The myth of "natural talent" is everywhere. I've seen it in the sports world, when my son would get discouraged that home runs came easier to other kids. But nowhere is it more pervasive than in the art world.
It actually starts in kindergarten! Some kids get pegged as the "good artists" with a "natural ability." This assumption that people are born with talent comes with a dangerous limiting belief: that others are not. I've often heard someone say, "Oh but I'm not creative! I could never do that!" When really, they've just never learned.
**Action tip:** Next time you catch yourself saying "I'm not good at X," try rephrasing to "I haven't learned X yet." Notice how this subtle shift opens possibilities.
The truth is, developing a new skill has much more to do with learning and practice than any magical gift. Have you noticed that kids who struggled early and had to work harder for their skills will often catch up and even surpass the kids who hit home runs without much effort? That's because we grow through consistent practice, deliberate repetition, and embracing the learning process.
The Surprising Benefits: More Than Just a New Hobby
If the joy of the skill itself isn't enough motivation, consider this: learning new skills has been shown to improve memory and attention—to the point where the brains of older adults who challenged themselves showed brain patterns similar to those of much younger people! Hey, I’ll take that! (The "Super Aging" Study at Northwestern University, 2021).
In the White Matter Plasticity Study (Nature Communications, 2020), adults who learned juggling over a 6-week period showed measurable changes in the white matter structure of their brains. And these changes persisted even after their training stopped! Now I can promise my Intro to Wheel students we are literally rewiring our brains!
**Action tip:** Consider your skill practice as a two-for-one benefit – you're not just learning pottery (or painting, or coding), you're actively improving your brain function.
Learning a new skill improves brain function!
What would you love to be able to do?
Thinking in Phases: Your Step-by-Step Solution
I like to trick my brain by separating tasks, even just regular chores, into Phases. I call “Phase 1” of doing the dishes complete when I’ve at least loaded the dishwasher. “Phase 2” is done when I’ve put hot water and soap into the pots and pans. This gives me that dopamine boost of finishing something, even when I’ve finished a Phase, not the whole thing. Here’s how that little brain trick can lead to new skills:
Phase 1: Just One Bite
First, identify the very first micro-skill to learn. If my goal is big and general like "Become an amazing ceramic artist, sell lots of work, exhibit nationally," I have to start by looking at where I am now, then add ONE tiny step.
For me, this meant signing up for an online class about surface design—then picking only ONE decoration technique that aligned with my style and goals, without requiring many new tools or materials.
**Action tip:** Choose a skill where you can see tangible progress in 1-2 weeks. Progress breeds motivation!
Phase 2: Scheduled Practice
Now that you've selected your skill, move into the scheduled practice phase. Think in terms of "skill minutes" instead of marathon sessions. And success is showing up for practice, not making an award-winning ceramic sculpture.
Find pockets of time when you're least likely to be interrupted. Create a minimal but consistent practice routine—even just 20 minutes—and have your materials and plan ready to go. For example: "Tomorrow during my practice time I'll throw 2 mugs and pull 2 handles. Next session, I'll trim them and attach handles."
**Action tip:** Set a recurring calendar alert for your practice sessions, and prepare your materials in advance to eliminate setup time.
Phase 3: Making It Your Own
After practicing for a few weeks or months, you can start adding your own spin. Try the "20 repetitions" method for finding your style—20 iterations can help you troubleshoot, make adjustments, and bring your own flair to the project. Create a challenge for yourself and go!
As you get better at the basics of the skill, allow your past experience, knowledge, and personality to get creative and make it your own.
Ask yourself these reflection questions as you complete each repetition:
* What do I love about how this turned out?
* What didn't go as planned?
* What could I do next time to make this simpler/more fun/more challenging?
If you move toward what intrigues and delights you and away from what doesn't resonate, you'll integrate the skill, create new neural pathways, and find more enjoyment as techniques become easier and more automatic.
Common Obstacles and How to Overcome Them
"I don't have time"
Instead of waiting for the perfect three-hour block that never materializes, track your actual time usage for one week. You'll likely find hidden minutes in transition periods—morning coffee, lunch breaks, or waiting for appointments.
"I'm too old/too busy/too whatever"
Remember Julia Child didn't start cooking professionally until age 36, and Grandma Moses began painting at 78. Your life experience actually gives you advantages when learning new skills! Michael Crichton quit medicine to become a writer. The next 10 years are going to go by, whether you learn new things or whether you don’t. But imagine where you’ll be in 10 years if you’re steadily building skills!
"I'm not making progress fast enough"
Set realistic timelines. Most skills have a plateau effect where progress seems to stall—this is normal! Track small wins in a journal or with photos to maintain motivation when you feel stuck.
Summary: Your Skill-Building Journey
Thinking in Phases transforms intimidating skills into manageable steps. Everybody starts somewhere, and your only job is to learn the next step. The brain benefits alone make skill-building worthwhile, but the personal satisfaction of creating something meaningful is the real reward.
Join the 5-Day Challenge!
Ready to put this into action? Join my 5-day challenge:
* Day 1: Identify ONE micro-skill and research the absolute basics
* Day 2: Gather minimal supplies and schedule three 20-minute sessions
* Day 3: Complete your first awkward attempt (and share photos!)
* Day 4: Reflect on what worked/didn't and make ONE adjustment
* Day 5: Complete your second attempt and celebrate progress, not perfection
Sign up for the challenge by replying to my email, or DM the word “SKILL” to me on Instagram - and let's build skills together! I’ll send an email a day for 5 days with an action to take and a little encouragement. If you’re feeling brave, share your chosen skill on social and tag me!
What's the one skill you've always wanted to learn? The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step—or in our case, just one bite!
With Enthusiasm for Life & Art,