21 Comments
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Ash B's avatar

I love this, I think one angle remaining potentially is the angle of exploration, how one can use exploration as part of gaining mastery, changing things a bit, seeing the outcome updating the mental model. This also helps in making sure you remain agile over time. Would love to hear your thoughts on this

Eva Keiffenheim MSc's avatar

Also - if you have any recommended resources around the angle of exploration please do share them :)

Ash B's avatar

While I cant point to a specific resource - this is a combination of what I have read and experienced, but I shall share across if I find something in the future. Heck I might even write down my thoughts around this, shall share it here once I have it in any shape resembling good :P

Eva Keiffenheim MSc's avatar

excellent - thank you! :)

Eva Keiffenheim MSc's avatar

Thanks Ash, that's a really interesting angle I haven't explored in depth (yet). I have only have-baked thoughts on that based on my own experience with exploring, so I won't comment on that for now. But I took note in my idea backlog, will start to look into evidence, and will write about it at one point. Thanks for steering me into this direction. And appreciate you reading the piece!

Lisa's avatar

Dein Artikel kommt für mich genau zur richtigen Zeit! Das Konzept von Deliberate Practice lernte ich zum ersten Mal in "So good they can't ignore you" von Cal Newport kennen.

Ich nehme mir deine Tipps zu Herzen und werde gleich morgen 45 Minuten einplanen, um ein meinem Sub-Skill zu arbeiten noch bessere Überschriften zu schreiben. Ich merke, dass ich beim Schreiben lernen wirklich weit außerhalb meiner Komfortzone bin und ich hoffe, dass herunterbrechen auf Sub-Skills macht es für mich leichter handhabbar. Danke!

Eva Keiffenheim MSc's avatar

Das freut mich Lisa! Wo veröffentlichst du was du schreibst (auf deinem Substack sehe ich nichts).

Falls relevant für dich

- 6 Principles That Helped Me Write Effective Headlines https://medium.com/better-humans/6-principles-that-helped-me-write-effective-headlines-22d787b6b45f?sk=9f9a1f70c530a5f1e3b56a294dc9ceac

Und ein Artikel in dem ich die "meta skills" zum online writing herunterbreche

The Ultimate Guide to Help You Write Non-Fiction Articles

https://medium.com/better-humans/the-ultimate-guide-to-help-you-write-non-fiction-articles-246f82f33b5e?sk=4f185e9038ad1cc23f451b45056accef

Lisa's avatar

Hi Eva! Danke dir für die Links. Deinen Guide hatte ich bereits und den nutze ich auch regelmäßig. Ich habe bisher noch keinen Artikel veröffentlicht. Sobald, ich etwas zu Stande gebracht habe, wo ich mich traue “publish” zu klicken, schicke ich dir den Link :-)

Eva Keiffenheim MSc's avatar

super, freue mich darauf!

Fernando Vago Santana's avatar

I also use a lot of gym metaphors. It fits perfectly to the ideas you are developing here. Thanks for this comprehensive overview of deliberate practice. Very helpful!

Eva Keiffenheim MSc's avatar

Thanks for reading Fernando! The gym metaphors make this very tangible for me.

I'm actually still in search of a good metaphor for retrieval practice and spaced repetition—especially for people who view them as the opposite of building understanding and making meaning. I want to show how they are actually complementary.

Dakota Gale's avatar

Brilliant summary of deliberate practice, Eva! I didn't progress for a decade with guitar because I was trying to do too much and didn't have a feedback loop. I'd used structured training in sports for years (rock climbing, cycling, running), but never applied it outside of that (sigh).

When I started studying piano and learned about deliberate practice from my teacher, I realized ohhhh no, I've been wasting my time with music...and Duolingo. I've since applied what you're talking about to music, three languages, drawing, and other concepts. It feels like a super power: anything I want to learn, I can turn on the deliberate practice and ramp up quickly.

Not that I'm perfect. But when I feel like I'm hitting a plateau, I go back to basics in any skill and hey, progress happens.

Keep up the great work!

Eva Keiffenheim MSc's avatar

Thanks for reading Dakota! It's inspiring to read what you've learned so far (your anki language learning article is still eagerly waiting in my weekend "to-read list"). And yes learning really can be a super power!

Dakota Gale's avatar

If you see anything glaring that I might improve in my Anki learning flow, I'm all ears and would love to hear your take if you have a few moments to share!

Just J's avatar

Eva thanks for this. Learning itself is a skill that can be learned, and your pillars make it actionable.

Eva Keiffenheim MSc's avatar

Yes! "learning itself is a skill that can be learned" ! Glad the pillars landed as actionable.

Hans's avatar

Eva, I can only agree with your valuable contribution. Of the many examples I could give, I will choose fitness training. For a long time, I found it so boring that I would listen to lectures by my 'heroes' in science and philosophy through my headphones. While intellectually stimulating, after a year I realised that despite small increases, I was barely getting past the maintenance level in my efforts to build muscle.

Then I realised that I had to focus on my primary goal. And yes, the 15% rule works! Plus, there's an added bonus: observing and challenging your body sensibly is by no means boring!

Eva Keiffenheim MSc's avatar

Thanks for sharing your own example Hans. I'm so glad to read you also found a way to push past maintenance practice during your workouts. It's indeed so rewarding!

Omar Hassan's avatar

Thank you Ms. Keiffenheim for this absolute treasure of an article. I am grateful for this painstakingly put together knowledge and I am sure others are as well.

Eva Keiffenheim MSc's avatar

Thanks for your kind words, Omar.

Jacob Guidi's avatar

great scholarly approach. Reminds me of writing my dissertation. As a musician deliberate practince and not burning through reps was so crucial.

There's also the commitment to your, "deliberate shift," long enough to see your neural pathways rewire themselves. You should check out Dr. Molly Gebrian's "Learn Faster, Perform Better." This is like the bible for deliberate practice for us musicians.