προϋπάρχειν
From LSJ
ἐν πίθῳ τὴν κεραμείαν μανθάνειν → in breaking many pots, the potter learns his craft | of those who undertake the most difficult tasks without learning the elements of the art | don't run before you can walk
Greek > English (Woodhouse Verbs Reversed)
(see also προυπάρχω): begin, be first to do a thing, be the first to do a thing
