Win your small pond before you jump into the ocean. Reps in small places build the lungs for big ones.

Skill gets built where the stakes are low enough that you can be bad in public and survive it. A small setting gives you repetitions, feedback and a real chance to be the best at something, all of which are hard to find at the top level. Jumping early usually means fewer chances and less learned from each one.

Find the smallest arena where what you do actually counts and try to be the strongest in it. Stay until you are bored. Boredom is usually the sign it is time to move up.