RealTalkAJ

I’ll be sharing my tips for developing and keeping dedication to your craft.

It’s the thing that separates the good from the great.

There’s several keywords that could stand out to plenty of people that read this.

A couple for me are “craft” and “dedication”

I’ve been involved in so many projects with an admitted addictive personality to the point I feel qualified discussing this.

We’re gonna dive further into this topic and dissect a completed feeling as a whole.

My tips for developing and keeping dedication to your craft

The best ways to develop and keep your dedication to a craft take shifting your focus from stressful moments. You have to consistently reward yourself for the small wins. There’s practice you have to take into consideration with identifying other positive perspectives as well.

Disassociate from the stress

Focusing on whatever stressful moment you’re going through is simply a waste of time.

If you get to where most of your mental capacity is spent on the difficulty of your project it makes the activity unbearable.

One of the best ways to go about avoiding this feeling is to draw your attention to something a lot more lighthearted.

Maybe it could be the way a light hangs from the ceiling.

Or the noise a board on the floor makes when you step over it.

Those are random examples but that’s just to give you an idea of how creative you can get.

As funny you may feel about this exercise you’re gonna find you go much further than if you harped on difficult emotions.

Give yourself a reward

I had a coach that revealed his secret for sticking with the sport as long as he did.

He said he would reward himself with a Mountain Dew after every practice.

It’s what his coach would do too.

The point I got from it was that rewarding yourself with a micro treat helps you stick around for the long term.

Identify as many positive perspectives possible

Do you think you found all the positive perspectives available when it comes to your craft?

Do you think you know all the benefits?

Everybody you’re inspiring and motivating just through your participation alone?

You’re missing out on development opportunities if you answered no to any of those questions.

Never stop practicing

Practicing in and of itself is dedication in action if you ask me.

You’re literally doing actions in repetition for an event of some sort.

The shift I’ve found helps competitors and performs the most is through reprogramming their subconscious.

They’re the ones repeating affirmation statements.

They review group goals if they’re posted.

You find these people to be first for rehearsals and sometimes last to leave.

I’ve had a mentor that would continually share with my class “Practice makes you better”

That philosophy only explains why the best teachers have students repeat fundamentals relentlessly.

Dedication to Your Craft

Dedication is what separates the good from the great.

It’s not just about talent—everyone has some—but results come from consistency and commitment to the craft.

Relying on more than talent

Talent is rare, but it’s not enough.

There are millions of people with natural skill, yet what truly sets someone apart is their willingness to grow that talent alongside others, working toward a shared vision.

Being gifted might open doors, but without reinvesting those skills into something meaningful—like your own brand—you’ll eventually hit a ceiling, especially when it comes to legacy.

Even in industries built on identifying talent, the real value comes from development.

It’s how you secure long-term success, both financially and personally.

Talent might get attention, but it’s attitude, consistency, and strategic growth that truly leave a lasting impact.

Truly loving what you do fuels that commitment.

Loving what you do to persist

Real dedication means being persistent, showing up even when progress feels slow or uncertain.

The most iconic leaders earned their reputation by keeping a belief alive through hard times.

When you’re committed to creating change, it might take days, months, or even years, but that endurance influences everyone around you—partners, customers, and leadership alike.

In a world full of people who know how to pretend, the ability to actually get the work done can’t be faked.

Dedication isn’t just a trait—it’s a destination.