Lessons from the Blade: Why Mastery Requires Patience

Over the past year, I’ve been learning how to shave with a straight edge razor. It’s something I picked up out of curiosity, but it quickly turned into an unexpected lesson in patience, discipline, and growth.

When we’re learning a new skill, we often want to master it immediately. We push through, expecting perfection right away. But when you’re handling something as unforgiving as a straight edge razor, rushing the process can leave you literally bleeding. There’s no shortcut—just repetition, care, and focus.

In the beginning, shaving my cheeks came easily. That small win boosted my confidence. But when I moved on to more complex areas of my face, it got hard. Really hard. It was nerve-wracking and frustrating. That’s when I learned the value of having a safety net—something you can fall back on when the challenge becomes too much. For me, that meant keeping my safety razor close, just in case I needed it.

Even now, I start with the straight razor, push myself to go as far as I can, and then switch if I have to. It’s a rhythm of growth and humility: trying the difficult thing first, then falling back on what I know if needed. And that rhythm shows up everywhere in my life—especially in sales and customer success.

There are still days where cold calls or outreach feel daunting. But I start with them. I do as much as I can. And if I need to, I fall back on the strategies I’ve mastered—the techniques I know work. It’s a balance between pushing the edge of my abilities and ensuring the work still gets done.

This lesson goes beyond razors and emails. When I learned how to juggle, do card flourishes, or roll coins, I could practice anytime, anywhere. I could repeat the motions mindlessly throughout the day. But shaving? You get one real shot a day—maybe two if your beard grows fast. You have to make each attempt count. Focus on your form. Think about your approach. Be deliberate.

It reminds me of fitness, too. You can’t overtrain a muscle and expect it to thrive. Overdoing it leads to pain, burnout, or even injury. Instead, you focus. You train with purpose. You take care.

So now, whether it’s a morning shave, a sales call, or a new business skill, I remind myself: don’t rush. Make each attempt meaningful. Take the time to do it right. That’s how you build mastery.

— Assad Quraishi

Lesson Learned:
True mastery doesn’t come from rushing—it comes from showing up with patience, pushing yourself gently out of your comfort zone, and knowing when to lean on your safety nets. In business and in life, success lies in the balance between challenge and consistency.