Why Beginners Sometimes Outperform Experts: How To Stay Innovative as an Expert 9 min read

Why do beginners sometimes outperform experts? Why do they seem more creative and innovative?

I was watching a cooking show recently (an Asian cooking show on Netflix); it completely stood out from the usual ones I’ve seen. The dynamic was fresh, and I loved it.

What made it different? It brought together chefs from completely different backgrounds.

They had:

• Professional chefs with decades of experience,
• Celebrity Instagram chefs with massive followings,
• A woman who cooked for public schools, and
• Restaurant owners with 20+ years in the game.

The competition had an interesting format.
They split the chefs into two categories: “White” chefs—those with extensive experience, and “Black” chefs—those still working their way up.

The “Black” chefs competed first. The best among them earned the chance to challenge the top “White” chefs.

And here’s where things got interesting.

When the judging criteria focused on innovation and stepping outside of their comfort zone, the “White” chefs—the seasoned experts—struggled.

But when the challenge was within their expertise—say, Japanese or Chinese cuisine—they dominated.

Meanwhile, the less-experienced chefs?

• They adapted faster.
• They experimented more.
• They sometimes even outperformed the so-called masters.

I’ve seen this pattern play out repeatedly beyond this cooking show.

In business. In marketing. In tech.

Beginners have an edge that’s often overlooked.

• They see things experts ignore.
• They question what’s considered ‘obvious.’
• They aren’t weighed down by ‘the way things have always been done.’ 

This article explores a counterintuitive truth: why people with less experience sometimes achieve better results than experts. And, at the end, it will show you how to stay innovative even as an expert.

And it all begins with cultivating the beginner’s mindset. 

Why It Is Important To Have The Beginner Mindset

The first thing we have to understand is that beginners (mostly) know that they don’t know. This self-awareness sets them apart and fuels their desire to learn.

I remember when I started marketing. I would stay up all night reading the latest blog posts, watching countless YouTube tutorials, and spending hours refining web pages. I was obsessed with learning everything I could to reach that expert level.

This hunger to improve is what makes beginners stand out. They wake up every day eager to learn, experiment, and grow.

Many people resist being seen as beginners or taking the beginner approach and mindset because they want to appear experienced. They fear looking like they don’t have it all figured out.

The truth? Real growth and development (usually) happen most intensely at the beginner stage.

No matter where you are in your career, every new phase starts with being a beginner. This is where you build your foundation.

Beginners think freely because they aren’t bound by rigid rules yet. 

Just look at how this plays out in business. Netflix vs. Blockbuster is a perfect example.

Blockbusters, with years of experience, clung to the old model. Netflix, the “beginner,” redefined how we consume entertainment.

Take a moment to reflect on your own career.
Remember how hungry you were when you first started?
How excited were you to learn everything you could?

We’ve all been there.

But something happens along the way.

So, what changed?

Let’s talk about it.

The Expert’s Blind Spot: When Your Expertise Holds You Back

Innovation has many enemies. Experience is one of them.

The paradox of expertise is simple: The more you know, the harder it becomes to see beyond what you know.

Yes, experience is valuable. But it’s also a double-edged sword.

Think about how we gain expertise: Repetition.
Doing the same thing over and over until we master it.

And once we find something that works, we stick to it.

That’s where the problem begins.

Over time, this leads to rigid thinking:
“This is how it’s done.”, or “We’ve always done it this way.”

We start following formulas instead of asking, “Is there a better way?”

Another issue with expertise is the illusion of infallibility. The more successful we become, the more confident we get—sometimes overly so.

We dismiss fresh ideas, especially when they come from beginners.

After all, if we’ve been solving a problem for years, why should we listen to someone new?

We forget that the best ideas often come from those who see things differently.

And let’s be real, expertise comes with something to lose.

Your career. Your reputation. Your public image.

Innovation involves risk, and risk involves failure.

Most experienced professionals aren’t willing to take that gamble.

But real innovation isn’t about small improvements—it’s about redefining the game.

It’s about breaking the patterns that experience locks us into.

And that starts with one thing: awareness.

Awareness that your expertise could be limiting you.

So the real question is: How do you break free from this trap?

Let’s get into it.

“What you know limits what you can imagine.” – Bill Taylor

Why Seeing Differently Is Often More Valuable Than Knowing More

One of the most powerful ways to refresh your expertise is by intentionally shifting your perspective. 

This means stepping outside your comfort zone and looking at problems differently.

In the agency world, I’ve often heard clients say they love having “a fresh pair of eyes” on their product. 

What they really value is not just feedback, but unfamiliar insights that challenge their usual way of thinking.

Seeing differently is more valuable than knowing more because new perspectives help you question old assumptions, spot hidden flaws, and discover overlooked opportunities.

That’s something beginners do instinctively. They see things that experts have stopped noticing.

One practical way to shift your perspective is to teach what you know.

Whenever I explain a concept—especially to someone new—I quickly realise where I lack clarity myself.

If you can’t explain it simply, you probably don’t understand it deeply.

To sharpen your thinking and avoid mental stagnation:

• Teach what you know and notice where you get stuck.
• Document unexpected insights that challenge your usual view.
• Get feedback from people outside your industry.

How to Develop The Beginner’s Mindset

Being an expert isn’t the problem. Getting stuck in your expertise is.

The key to innovation isn’t just knowing more—it’s seeing differently.

In Japanese Zen practice, this concept is called Shoshin (初心), or “beginner’s mind.”

It means staying open, curious, and free from limiting assumptions—even as you gain mastery.

Our preconceived notions about our work often limit us, but Shoshin allows us to solve problems with a beginner’s mindset even as an expert.

Remember the excitement when you first started learning something new?

That spark, that hunger to explore—you need to keep that alive.

A beginner’s mindset is about staying open, curious, and teachable—and you can develop it by deliberately breaking routine, questioning what you “know,” and staying connected to the joy of learning.

Here’s how to cultivate it in your daily work:

Use your expertise as a tool, not a cage

Think of your experience as a starting point, not a final answer. When approaching a problem, pause and ask: “If I didn’t already know the ‘right’ way to do this, what would I try instead?”
Try switching up your go-to method once in a while, even if just as an experiment.

Question assumptions before they become blind spots

The tricky thing about assumptions is they don’t announce themselves. So write them down. Literally. “We can’t launch in Q2.” “People won’t pay for this.” Then ask: Says who? You’ll often realise the limit is made up.

Stay open to unconventional ideas

Make it a habit to explore ideas from outside your industry or niche. Follow someone on YouTube, Twitter, or LinkedIn who works in a totally different field—and borrow their thinking style. Fresh inputs lead to fresh outputs.

Take calculated risks that lead to breakthroughs

Start with low-stakes experiments. For example: test a bold copywriting hook, explore a new channel, or prototype a new product idea. Don’t bet the farm—but bet enough to learn something. Ask: “What’s the smallest version of this idea I can test?”

Learn from everyone—because insight has no hierarchy

Don’t just seek feedback from peers or managers. Ask interns. Ask new team members. Ask users. Sometimes the clearest ideas come from the people furthest from the problem—because they’re not tangled in it.

The more you know about your area of expertise, the more you should realise there is still so much to learn.

To become a truly successful expert, you need more than knowledge.

You need wonder.

You need humility.

You need the eyes of a beginner.

Never stop being a student of your craft—even as you master it.

Conclusion: Your ability to see with fresh eyes is priceless. 

The greatest paradox in mastery isn’t just about what you know—it’s about staying open to what you don’t know.

True experts aren’t the ones who’ve stopped learning. They’re the ones who’ve mastered the art of seeing old problems with new eyes. 

They know when to lean on their experience and when to think like a beginner.

Remember: Every expert was once a beginner who dared to try something new. Every innovation came from someone who asked, “What if we did this differently?”

Your expertise is valuable. But your willingness to see with fresh eyes? That’s priceless.

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Below are some related content on this blog: 

• The Identity Trap: Why Your Success Might Be Holding You Back (And How to Break Free)
• Love for Learning: Why It Matters and How to Cultivate It
• The Importance of Lifelong Learning
• Why Exposure to Different Perspectives Leads To Growth [And How To Become More Open-Minded]
• The Courage to Be Wrong: Why Authentic Self-Expression Is Your Path to Freedom and Growth