"The key that separates a mediocre person from a pro is not about learning more, or spending more time on something, but control."
This was one of the first lessons my vocal teacher ever shared with me.
At the time, I understood the words well enough, but it took a full year of effort—digesting and applying this wisdom—to truly grasp its deeper meaning. Eventually, I realised it all comes down to four essential components: focus, execution, efficiency, and output.
Let me share some examples from my own life.
When I attend vocal classes, I always put my phone on airplane mode. Honestly, there aren’t many situations in life where I deliberately set my phone aside (I’m working on that, but that’s a story for another day). In class, it’s all about learning techniques and practising them repeatedly. One unexpected way I’ve tracked my progress is by sending random song covers to my friends. While I’ve never posted these publicly, they’ve become a form of self-review. Listening back, I can spot my tendencies—like forcing a flat note after hitting a high one or not injecting enough emotion into certain songs. I wouldn’t be able to gain these insights on my own if it wasn’t for those song covers that I did for fun with my friends though.
But this isn’t just about singing. This concept of control applies to other parts of my life too, including my income streams.
I’ve noticed an ironic contradiction: while I always say I love making money, I’ve realized I might just love having money. There’s no shame in that, of course, but I had to confront the excuses I’d been telling myself—things like, “I’m not ready yet” or “I need more time to prepare.” What I actually needed was to sit down, focus, tackle the issues head-on with efficient actions, and learn along the way. I’d been overcomplicating problems in my head, making them seem bigger than they were. It’s not that knowledge and strategy aren’t important. They are, but they pale in comparison to focused execution and consistent output. Looking back, if I’d faced my challenges immediately instead of overthinking them, I could have achieved so much more this year.
I’ve realised many of us fall into this trap of waiting for perfection. I’ve even discussed this with friends, and they’ve shared similar struggles.
For instance, I have a friend who’s a talented guitarist but was stuck in a job he didn’t care about, earning a mediocre salary. For years, he said he was waiting to feel “ready” to pursue music full-time. It wasn’t until he took a leap of faith, quit his job, and committed to his craft that things changed. Now, he’s not just a guitarist but a self-taught music producer earning a living from the music he creates! This transformation happened in just one year!
Another friend wanted to become a content creator. She loved making vlogs and plogs but spent weeks agonizing over every little detail—fonts, filters, vibes. I watched her hesitate before finally posting her first piece of content. Now, she’s on her fourth or fifth post, and her growth is incredible. Her content is beautiful and so soothing to watch. I feel like a proud mama after months of nagging her to “just post it already.”
If you’ve found yourself stuck in the “waiting” phase, it’s okay. There’s no need to dwell on what’s already happened. Instead, let’s move forward with more awareness and a commitment to better self-control.
As we head into a new year, consider creating systems or non-negotiable routines to hold yourself accountable. A habit tracker might help too. Whatever that works for you is the best way.
This time next year, I hope we can look back and say, “I’m so glad I executed well throughout the year,” rather than, “I’m still waiting”.
Let’s make it happen.
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