I have come to a few conclusions on this kind of subject. I am a relatively intelligent person. My "I don't give a shit" GPA in high school was a 3.61, scored a 25 on my ACT, a 90 on the ASVAB, with a GT score of 122. Not genius, by any means, but relatively intelligent. I also have concluded that I have the ability to learn. Hand me something that I take a bit of interest in, and I can excel. I went to school to learn to shoe horses almost eight years ago now, and found I have a knack for it. In those first few years, I competed a fair bit, and went to every certification I could muster to pass my certified journeyman farrier.
So when I started getting serious about pistol shooting, I found that by simply watching videos and with a bit of gear (some target stands, a shot timer, targets, lots of mags and ammo, and an internet connection), I could get significantly better.
However, I have started to feel like I'm flatlined. As in, I need some direction. I've gotten to the place where to get where I want to go, I need to make myself afford the time and cash to do some training, and have finally found where I can start to do some level of competing. it's progressive, and sometimes it feels like I'm going slow as mud, but being in my 30's, there's things that feel like they shouldn't be the challenge that they are.
Just my musings on the matter.