What was the name of your first blog? Do you remember how excited you were about it? Did you have a defined topic?

FlaxRx was mine—an advice column, Q&A-style, about life and relationships.

It was super cool. It was also terrible.

How terrible?

I thought it was groundbreaking that readers could leave comments about what I wrote. (So interactive!) I hardly researched similar websites and, in turn, failed to learn about blogging best practices.

I didn’t take the time to study marketing techniques that spark the interests of potential readers. Once you develop a website or blog, you quickly discover that you won’t get traffic just because the site exists.

As embarrassing as that blog is now, I realized that my adventure into blogging and web design was the first step that I took to create the online proofreading service that I’ve worked at full-time for the past four years.

My “hobby blog” planted the seed for an entrepreneurial endeavor and taught me about the tools that I would need to use to run my business. Revision Fairy blossomed a year later.

Starting a project that means something to you—even if you have no idea what you’re doing—teaches you invaluable lessons.

Here are three ways your inexperience can benefit your career development.

1. Make inconsequential mistakes. 

You’re always going to make mistakes, so it’s best to get used to the process as soon as possible. Getting comfortable with mistakes makes them less scary and shows you that you will bounce back from them.

Since you’re not sure what to do as you learn about your new craft, you have the freedom to try different things and take note of what works. That’s how you gain experience and expertise.

2. Create productive habits. 

Time management and learning how to swiftly set priorities are crucial skills. When you set aside time to work on your passion project every day, you build something, whether it feels like it or not.

The best creations happen effortlessly because the enjoyment of the activity masks the hard work that you perform. It may not seem like anything is happening, but your dedication doesn’t go to waste.

My first blog seemed like a silly hobby, but when I actually needed to write a blog for my business, I wasn’t starting from scratch. The time that I spent immersed in my hobby helped me make smarter decisions in more important situations.

3. Shape your identity. 

Even though your identity will evolve, the work that you do when you’re still a newbie captures who you are at that moment and helps you evaluate who you may or may not want to be in the future.

When you’re new to a certain field, you have a fresh perspective. Even though you’ll want to study the pros as much as possible, take advantage of your early business stage. Rather than following the same formula, you have time to experiment with how you want to position your unique product or service.

In the comments below, share your favorite business and life lessons.

Author Bio:
Stefanie Flaxman is the creator of @RevisionFairy and author of the new painkiller ‘How to Overcome Heartbreak Without Projectile Vomiting: A Guide for Cynical Hopeless Romantics.’