Lehrjahre sind keine Herrenjahre.
Apprentice years are not years as a gentleman. The years of training are hard, and the apprentice is not yet his own master. In 2024, a young carpenter from Thuringia who had become European champion told a newspaper: Lehrjahre sind keine Herrenjahre – dieser alte Spruch demotiviert junge Leute. This old saying discourages young people.
Es ist noch kein Meister vom Himmel gefallen.
No master has yet fallen from the sky.
Übung macht den Meister.
Practice makes the master.
Neue Besen kehren gut.
New brooms sweep well. A newcomer starts with great zeal. DWDS notes that the saying is sometimes ironic.