proficiency

There's a small story in the times today on talent. It reads, in part:

"In addition, by studying those who have excelled, Professor Ericsson has found that they engage in something he calls "deliberate practice." It involves spending hours a day in highly structured activities to improve performance and overcome weaknesses.

The practice is not necessarily enjoyable and requires someone willing to put in the grueling hours over at least 10 years. From his observations, it takes a minimum of a decade of deliberate practice to excel in any field.

But he is not talking about practicing every day, all day. Four hours a day is usually the maximum that anyone can do to really get the most out of the effort, he said. After that, exhaustion sets in.

"Most people wouldn't be able to engage in deliberate practice for even a few weeks," Professor Ericsson said. And that's one of the biggest reasons why more of us don't get to — or even near — the top levels in a given field."

 

Which made me wonder, when was the last time I devoted 4 hours a day to anything?

 

I guess in school I would give that much time to studying and when I was younger I gave that time to books. Now, I give it to 맥주, friends and korean dramas. I suppose we could call that deliberate practice of leading a really enjoyable life.

 

article at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/10/your-money/10shortcuts.html?src=me&ref=business