Re: Freakonomics Radio (How to Become Great at Just about Anything)
I’ve hosted numerous blogs to share stories I thought to impact my readers. However, there was an unsatisfying, flenching feeling that my writing was finding a stagnating point. Oh, the fear of writing worthless clutter! It’s only after I had a conversation with a friend, whom I met during my sophomore college term at Victoria café, that I’ve become conflicted on ways I should or could adopt a productive mindset. He advised that I write 1,000 shitty words/day on just about anything and everything.
To his point, Anders Ericcson, author of Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise, voiced his opinion on the inexistent myth of ‘natural talent’. Instead, he claims that a person should invest 10,000 hours in deliberate practice in order to have command over a skill. Ericcson alluded to Malcom Gladwell’s chef d’oeuvre, The Outlier, and mentions Galdwell’s book is (a) brilliant and (b) has added significant value to society, but that his work misses an important point. Gladwell advocates that the hardworker almost always outperforms the common man. And by following the 10,000 hour theory, one is almost guaranteed a seat at the grand tier at The Royal Opera House in London. The very important missing piece that Ericcson points out is a qualitative function: aka, deliberate practice. Deliberate practice is when the mind is forced to narrow on targeted components of a practice. The practice will be intentional and uncomfortable. Extending the activities beyond your own comfort zone is the vehicle to an altered and improved performance. Thus, becoming a better version of yourself.
Tips from Ericcson:
- Set well defined goals: Be specific on your goals. Know what you want. Find your values.
- Instructor: Find someone that can guide you in your practice. Someone that can point out your shortcomings, and who is willing to scaffold you through the unnerving journey of improvement.
- Practice: It goes unsaid, there’s no way you would be able to reach peak performance if you don’t put in the work.
- Evaluate: Find effective methods to shorten the gap between your departing point (where you are presently) and your ideal end point.
- Target Performance vs. General Performance: The first time I read ‘half the battle is showing-up’ was in Gretchen Rubin’s ‘Happiness Project’, yet the gremlin voice inside my head reminds me that ‘half the battle’ is not enough. My gremlin agrees with Ericcson’s writing in which to be “whole”, one must refine his/her practice. Finding specific aspects that could be improved to have the opportunity to polish it.
- Taxi Drivers versus Bus Drivers : Stephen Dubner outlined the altered brain chemistry in London Taxi Drivers vs. London Bus Drivers. Taxi drivers are expected to memorize the narrow and complex roads of London, whereas bus drivers are merely expected to follow a defined and repetitive route. Researchers have found that Taxi drivers use their hippocampus more considerably. Therefore, taxi drivers have an altered and more favourable brain chemistry that allows them to be smarter and more effective. I sometimes wonder how my own brain operates: such as one of a bus driver or a taxi driver?
- Invest Time: Aha, my first year economics class is saying ‘hello’ again by reminding the dandy notion of ‘Opportunity Cost’. The allocation of resources to a certain foundation means a loss of allocation in another one. Gladwell ratifies the general rationale that behind every WINNER there are a number of supportive people that pillar the performance . He adds, “ You cannot do the dishes, mown the lawn, and do laundry while you devote your 10,000 hours to a craft”.
- Keep at it: Do not give up ! It’s just around the corner.
Final thoughts
Remember to be ENGAGED and keep a sense of CURIOSITY.
