“An expert is someone who knows some of the worst mistakes that can be made in his subject, and how to avoid them.” – Werner Heisenberg
How do I develop expertise? How do I become really good at something or become the best?
First you need to have a passion or an interest in what you want to develop expertise.
An excerpt from How To Become The Best at Anything, Chapter 1, Passion and Interest
“What is your passion? What are you passionate about? Are you passionate about a sport, say basketball, or surfing? Tennis anyone? How about art, or music. Perhaps you’re zeroed in on an academic field such as biology, or economics. Maybe you have a passion for exploring, with an eye on the Himalayas.
Don’t have a passion, then what are you interested in? Interest and achievement go hand in hand. It is easier to achieve in a domain if you have a strong interest or passion.”
An excerpt from How To Become The Best at Anything, Chapter 2, What else do I need?
There are several requirements that have to be met in order to become the best at anything besides passion.
Talent – Chapter 3
You do not necessarily need talent, a genetic advantage. A passion for something is the most important component because your passion will motivate you to succeed.
Physical Limitations – Chapter 4
If you have a physical limitation that prevents you from practicing, you couldn’t become the best athlete in a sport. For example, if you don’t have use of your legs, you couldn’t practice running.
Access – Chapter 5
You have to have access to practice facilities/equipment/etc. If you wanted to win a gold medal in swimming at the Olympics and had no place to swim, this would definitely hamper your progress.
A Goal and a Plan – Chapter 6
You need to have a defined final goal with intermediate goals along the way. You need to have a plan with a timetable and assessments.
Coaches – Chapter 7
You need to have some kind of a coach/teacher/mentor (or equivalent) that will guide you in your practice and give you feedback.
Deliberate Practice and Learning – Chapter 8
To become the best takes practice, lots and lots of practice. It takes about 10,000 hours of practice to get really good at something and not just any type of practice, deliberate practice. Deliberate practice is practicing at getting better every time you practice. Note: The number of hours you will need to practice from the start of your journey may vary depending on the domain and how much expertise you have already developed.
Persistence – Chapter 9
You must persevere through everything.
