It may seem obvious, but it's easier said than done.
It's also very enticing to want to believe that a real shortcut exists, and there's plenty of writing out there in that vein. It's refreshing to have someone be honest enough with you to tell you something you may not want to hear, but you really need to hear.
I didn't see anything extraordinary in the article either. The guy focused on what he wanted to do and improved through practice.
The best book I have ever read on outlining how learning works is Mastery by George Leonard. One of his points is that many people assume we learn at a linear pace and so get frustrated when we find we are not making progress.
He says that is false. We actually learn in short bursts. There will be a period of flatness, followed by an intense period of gains where you will plateau and then fall back a little behind you're highest point but above where you were before. This will then repeat itself if you keep up. The time frame could change as well. One flat period may be days while another may be years.
This seems to be exactly the same process as the guy in the article went through.
Comments
If I understood that stream of consciousness correctly, and I had to read it twice, I think it's this:
1. To be spectacularly successful you have to be extraordinary.
2. There are no shortcuts.
3. If well directed then intense focus and frequent practice can be a great way to improve.
Is is just me or is the above obvious? Has anyone gotten anything else from that article?
4. Choose a venue with clear metrics, and work to master the venue. Use the metrics to guide your skill development.
Also: Short feedback cycles are good.
Sounds like test-driven skill development, when you put it that way.
It may seem obvious, but it's easier said than done.
It's also very enticing to want to believe that a real shortcut exists, and there's plenty of writing out there in that vein. It's refreshing to have someone be honest enough with you to tell you something you may not want to hear, but you really need to hear.
I didn't see anything extraordinary in the article either. The guy focused on what he wanted to do and improved through practice.
The best book I have ever read on outlining how learning works is Mastery by George Leonard. One of his points is that many people assume we learn at a linear pace and so get frustrated when we find we are not making progress.
He says that is false. We actually learn in short bursts. There will be a period of flatness, followed by an intense period of gains where you will plateau and then fall back a little behind you're highest point but above where you were before. This will then repeat itself if you keep up. The time frame could change as well. One flat period may be days while another may be years.
This seems to be exactly the same process as the guy in the article went through.