The Master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.
~ Stephen McCranie

This is a quote that rings true in my case. Not because I am a master (not yet anyway), but because I have reached a point in my life where, on looking back, I can state with absolute certainty that I would not be where I am now if I had given up on some of the obstacles I faced. A vital truth I have come to learn is that challenges will always be a part of life even if you are an expert at your field. Just because you are struggling does not automatically mean that you are not on the right path, it just means you need to either be a bit more patient or try something different before throwing in the towel.

While at a technical school undertaking the Data Science course, we inevitably had to encroach into Probability and Statistics (P&S) territory. Since high school, P&S and I have been sworn enemies, always clashing and never reaching a mutual understanding. Prior to my admission to the course, I had been tested on my knowledge and understanding of statistics, but it had been mostly basic stuff so I thought there was no need to delve deeper. I was so, so wrong.

Just two weeks into the second of four modules, we were introduced to probability distributions and learned about the various types of regressions that can be used. In case you didn't know, there are A LOT: simple linear regression, multiple linear regression, polynomial regression, ridge regression, lasso regression, elastic net regression, and many others. As if it wasn't bad enough that we had to know about them and know when to select the right one, we also had to prove we understood by applying them to a given data set. What made it even more difficult for me was that I had perfectionist tendencies that demanded I know and fully understand literally everything I have to know and understand before embarking on a project. Combine this with my P&S-resistant brain and what do we get? A recipe for disaster.

And disaster ensued. I was unable to perform up to standard on my weekly individual project and faced expulsion as this was a violation of one of the school's agreements that we maintain our scores above a certain mark in order to remain enrolled. I was distraught, wondering how I would explain this to my father and even started reconsidering whether data science was the path for me. Luckily, I was provided with the opportunity to redeem myself. One of the technical mentors was concerned about my performance and gave me advice that changed the way I approach my tasks now. He told me to stop stressing about knowing and understanding everything and to first do what is required (usually the basics) in good time and then revisit my work to correct errors or add new information/details. It is an iterative process that could be done as many times as needed in a given time frame. Feeling inspired, I applied his advice to my work, using the rubric we had been provided as a guide.

Almost as if by magic, I performed incredibly (and ridiculously) well on my reattempt, and I continued to do well for the remainder of the course. It was astonishing how much easier it was to approach and execute my tasks when the pressure of attaining perfection right from the start was removed. I have used this iterative technique in other aspects of my life including writing professional emails, structuring weekly schedules, doing assignments and projects, and even in learning. The trick is to just begin with what I have and improve as I progress, and then repeat the cycle as many times as I needed to ensure my work is of good quality.

That experience also taught me that there is no honor in suffering in silence and I should always ask for help if I feel stuck or overwhelmed. Learning never ends and it won't do to complicate it by adding unnecessary pressure that suffocates the fun that comes with learning and growing. Any time I doubt I'm the right person for a job or feel like I don't know enough about a project to take it on, I tell myself "chak achaka", which translates to "just begin" (you can read about this here). Things usually start to fall in place once I've taken the first step and kept going.

So if you feel like you are not qualified to take on a job or a project, I implore you to just start with what you have/know and then figure out what is needed and handle that, and repeat as many times as you need to until you are satisfied with the results. This iterative process, if left unbroken, sets you on the true path to Mastery.