The Apprentice
One of the questions that I get asked all the time is "how long will it take me to learn tc", many students think I can answer this in a definite time frame but I normally answer " the rest of your life" which doesn't go down too well.
I think this is because we are all used to being customers, paying for a service or goods and then immediately getting them or marking achievements by some kind of award such as a medal, certificate or letters after your name.
Unfortunately In tc there are no external trinkets to show off with, just the realization that nobody cares or should care about your tc except you.
Delayed gratification is the name of the game. If you live a happy, healthy and a long life then maybe that's reward enough from all your years and I mean years of practice.
So forget about 'buying' your experience and more about earning it. Think about bring an apprentice, not so much the Sir Alan sugar -lots of arses in shiny suits or ‘use the force luke’ nonsense but the old fashioned way of actually being taught by an expert in stages over a long period of time.
Pick a teacher that you can respect and get on with, this is important as you are going to be spending a lot of time with them.
Observe what they do and try to imitate them, then try to memorize what you have been taught and finally try to study and practice on your own which will allow you to ask sensible and relevant questions in class.
But remember "empty vessels make the most noise".