In Why Talent Is Overrated, writer Geoff Colvin declares that the “conventional wisdom about ‘natural’ talent is a myth.” If natural talent is a myth......What separates good leaders from truly great ones? Deliberate practice is the key ingredient related to talent in all fields. Deliberate practice is not just about working harder or the “practice makes perfect” model. This is certainly true as we move forward to Miami in less than 30 days. It will not be natural talent that enables us to complete the course multiple times. It will instead be the deliberate practice that led to the event.
Deliberate practice is designed with clear objectives and goals in mind. When top musicians, athletes, etc. practice, they break down their skill into specifically defined elements. After breaking down the skill into parts, the individual relentlessly works on the element they need to improve most. During the entire practice session, they will only focus on that one aspect. That is what separates good from great in all areas of life.
In Miami we will be running on back to back days. In order to be successful part of my deliberate practice has been to build up to running the Tough Mudder distance (10-12 miles) on consecutive days. I am confident in our ability to run on Saturday. We will be fresh and rested except for the side trip to the Miami Heat/Memphis Grizzlies game Friday night. I worry more about getting up on Sunday and completing the challenge again. I don't tend to move as quickly the day after a race. In all honestly I am normally a great candidate for a walker, wheelchair, or scooter the next day.
As an added bonus each race has the potential of being the race that qualifies us the World's Toughest Mudder. Deliberate practice will be the key to our success in Miami and beyond. The author of the book also outlines 8 key principles related to deliberate practice. Apply each of these 8 principles to your work and greatness will certainly follow.
- Deliberate practice is designed specifically to improve performance.
- Deliberate practice can be repeated a lot.
- Feedback on results is continuously available.
- It's highly demanding mentally.
- It's hard.
- It occurs before the work in the form of planning
- It occurs during the work in the form of action
- It occurs after the work in the form of reflection
The bottom line is that we all have the same amount of time in our day. It is how we spend our time that truly matters. Often we will increase the time devoted to an initiative and expect different results. It isn't necessarily the time that it is the issue. It is the intensity in which we utilize the time given.
Change doesn't occur overnight and it certainly will not be sustained without continued efforts. Repetition alone won’t get you to the level of excellence you desire. It is also true that you won’t reach greatness without it. Keep in mind that practice will not make perfect. Only "Perfect Practice" makes perfect.
Deliberate practice is the key to your improvement efforts. Make sure everything you do is on purpose. You must be intentional in your thoughts, words, and actions. One month from today will be our first official Mudder of the year. I'm confident that our improvement efforts will not only pay off but provide momentum for the journey that will take us next to West Virginia and a new challenge.
Be Deliberate, Be Intentional, Be Great.
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