Consistency is not enough...

Only focusing on consistency is like - Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. In other words, its called Insanity.

Imagine playing the same 3 chords on piano for 1 whole year... It will just make you a person bored with playing piano instead of a pianist.

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Then why does the world go head over heels about Consistency?

Because though Consistency alone will not make you successful, Consistency combined with deliberate practice can make all the difference.

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“Small, deliberate actions inspired by your true desires create a life you love.” - Danielle LaPorte

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Performance Psychology defines Deliberate practice as being effortful in nature, with the main goal of personal improvement of performance rather than enjoyment, and is often performed without immediate reward.

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In other words, for us to keep at something consistently it has to challenge us, inspire us and fulfill a purpose. Without these 3 key ingredients, consistent practice will be more of a wasteful punishment.

So how can we go about each component of a Deliberate practice -

?1.?Targeted Improvement

Identifying specific areas for improvement and work on them systematically. It requires breaking down complex skills into smaller components, focusing on the most challenging aspects, and practicing them intentionally. This holds true for anything you choose to do - music, sports, writing, learning to solve a rubic's cube, financial analysis, anger management - literally anything and everything

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2.?Long-Term Commitment

Picasso's story is the best reflection of long term commitment. One day, whilst enjoying his evening meal at a restaurant, Pablo Picasso—the world’s most influential artist at the time—got interrupted by a fan who handed over a napkin to him and said, “could you sketch something for me? I’ll pay you for it. Name your price.”

In response, Picasso pulled out a charcoal pencil from his pocket and swiftly sketched an image of a goat.

The man reached out to collect the napkin, but Picasso withheld it. “You owe me $100,000,” he said.

The man was outraged. “$100,000? Why? That took you no more than 30 seconds to draw!”

Picasso then crumpled up the napkin and stuffed it into his jacket pocket. “You are wrong,” he said.

“It took me 40 years.”

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3.?Quality and Quantity

Both are important. Doing one practice session in 3 months, won't drive success but neither will everyday practice without improvement. Key is Focused and concentrated effort with full attention and engagement. This way, you can make efficient use of your practice time and hone specific skills, techniques, or knowledge gaps. In short, maximizes the effectiveness of each practice session.

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4.?Feedback and Reflection

Continuous feedback and reflection on performance is critical. It requires seeking feedback from experts, mentors, coaches, or peers who can provide valuable insights and guidance. By actively seeking feedback and analyzing your own performance, you can identify areas of improvement and adjust the practice strategies accordingly. This feedback loop helps refine skills and accelerate progress.

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“Everyone has talent. What’s rare is the courage to follow it to the dark places where it leads.” —Erica Jong

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5.?Pushing Beyond the Comfort Zone through stretch goals

Challenging yourself to tackle increasingly difficult tasks or situations is how you grow. It involves setting specific goals that stretch your abilities and require focused effort to achieve. Its not important to achieve the goals, rather the focus is on how you grow and what you become in the process.

By consistently working on tasks that are slightly beyond your current skill level, you continuously challenge yourself and make substantial progress over time.

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6.??Experimentation

Deliberate practice promotes adaptability and iterative refinement. It encourages individuals to experiment, learn from mistakes, and adjust their practice strategies based on the outcomes. This adaptive approach ensures that practice is continuously optimized and aligned with the desired goals, allowing for continuous improvement.

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Wrapping it up with Mark Manson's words in his amazing book, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck -

"To begin your journey to success, you need to follow a three-step process – first, accept that you don’t ‘have it all’; second, don’t get depressed because of that; and third, work better and more intelligently to ‘get it all’, the only caveat being to sensibly define what ‘it all’ means to you."

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