The document discusses the four stages of learning a new skill according to the Conscious Competence model: 1) Unconsciously Unskilled, 2) Consciously Unskilled, 3) Consciously Skilled, and 4) Unconsciously Skilled. It applies this model to becoming an entrepreneur and outlines the dangers of stages 1 and 2 of being unconsciously or consciously incompetent, emphasizing the importance of gaining competence and advice from mentors. Stage 3 of conscious competence is described as what most moderately successful entrepreneurs operate at, while stage 4 of unconscious competence is the level of mastery attained by highly successful entrepreneurs.

1. Are You Just
Going To Be
Moderately
Successful?

2. Awareness will change your life. Without awareness
you cannot make the right choices.
The Conscious Competence ladder was developed
by Noel Burch to help us understand our thoughts and
emotions during a learning process.
The model highlights two factors that affect our
thinking as we learn a new skill: consciousness
(awareness) and skill level (competence).
According to the model, we move through the
following levels as we build competence in a new
skill:
• Unconsciously Unskilled – we don't
know that we don't have this skill, or that we
need to learn it.
• Consciously Unskilled – we know that
we don't have this skill.
• Consciously Skilled– we know that we
have this skill.

3. • Unconsciously Skilled – we don't know that we
have this skill (it just seems easy).
The Four Stages Of Learning Any New
Skill
No matter what new skill we decide to learn, there
are four stages each of us goes though. Being aware
of these stages helps accept that learning can be a
frequently slow and uncomfortable process.
As you move from employee to business owner you
will be learning new sets of skills. You will have to
think in a different way and take action in ways you
have never taken action before.
Let me talk you through the stages and how they
relate to being an entrepreneur.
Stage 1 – Unconsciously Incompetent
Some people will launch a business and maintain a
“you don’t know what you don’t know” state of
existence. It will mean that your business will live in
the land of doom. You will live an illusion and find it
almost impossible to succeed.

4. It’s very dangerous for entrepreneurs to be
unconsciously incompetent. You will not be able to
take your business to the next level.
Unfortunately the reason so many businesses fail is
because they fail at the first hurdle. They don’t realise
they need to know more than they do. They believe
they know everything already.
The solution: Avoid this by surrounding yourself with
trustworthy and wise mentors, coaches and advisors.
Look where you want your business to go and make
sure that you have someone who can help guide the
way. If you have the right advisory network you can
avoid being unconsciously incompetent.
Stage 2 - Consciously Incompetent
This is only one step away from being unconsciously
incompetent. I see many people using fear to keep
them at this stage. Consciously incompetent is an
entrepreneur who is struggling, knows why he is
struggling, and yet fails to do anything about it. This is
where I struggle the most when I see people in this
stage.

5. I have trained many aspiring entrepreneurs and it has
been clear why they were not succeeding. Yet even
with the knowledge of why they were struggling, they
never did anything about it. And therefore stayed in
the land of Consciously Incompetent.
The Solution: If someone enables you to become
conscious of a shortcoming or an area that needs
working on (fixing) you need to do something about it.
You need to take action on what the missing piece of
the puzzle is, and get competent. Believe me you do
not want to dwell in the land of Consciously
Incompetent for long. It can lead to depression,
frustration and anger. This is when you need to look
outside of your bubble and find solutions.
Stage 3 - Consciously Competent
Becoming Consciously Competent is a highly
rewarding time. This is where you start to celebrate
the little and big wins that you receive, as you have
been improving on your weaknesses, so they are no
longer weaknesses.

6. Being Consciously Competent is the mode that
most moderately successful entrepreneurs operate in.
They know what they need to know, and know how to
achieve it. They make an effort to focus and achieve
the goals they need to achieve. And they do a pretty
good job of it too.
The Solution: Note I said moderately successful. This
is the minimum level of competence you must be at to
have some success. Because you have mentors and
advisors around you, you will learn what you need to do
to overcome your weakness as they arise. You will
naturally move into this state for most things you strive
to achieve. If you want to go from moderate to mastery
then you need to aspire to Stage 4.
Stage 4 - Unconsciously Competent
Some people are lucky. (There is no such thing as luck
by the way). Some people are so fortunate that they
are so good at what they do they they can do it in their
sleep. This luck is otherwise known as mastery. You
can call it the David Beckham stage. A star athlete in
his prime, who effortlessly excels in his field of
expertise.

7. Most successful entrepreneurs I have known combine
their passions with their natural talents and 10,000
hours of Mastery. If you become an entrepreneur at this
stage then you are operating at an extremely high level
of competence.
After understanding what it takes to be an
entrepreneur they become exceedingly successful.
Think Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Warren Buffet.
The Solution: You don’t need a solution if you are
Unconsciously Competent. However if you try and
disrupt the markets you are working in and innovate
you will not get the rug pulled out from under you. Aim
higher, act bolder and never rest on your laurels.