We often receive messages from guys who would really like to study web and start writing codes, but they don’t have enough time to get the appropriate skills. And we always know what to advice.
Malcolm Gladwell wrote an instantly bestselling book called “Geniuses and outsiders. Why is everything one and nothing else?” Based on it, we need 10,000 hours to achieve a high level of any skill. Perhaps world-class mastery may require 10 thousand hours of hard training, but to master a skill sufficient to satisfy your needs and start practicing in something, as a rule, you do not need to make such tremendous efforts. The key point to quickly acquiring a skill is the principle of sufficiency, as Josh Kaufman writes in his book “The First 20 Hours”.
The rapid acquisition of a skill can be represented in four main steps:
● Splitting the skill into elements, the smallest of the possible.
● Studying each element is detailed enough to give training meaningfulness and the ability to correct errors.
● Removing physical, psychological, and emotional barriers to training.
● Training the most important elements for at least 20 hours.
For those who fall into the trap of “fixed” mind, thinking that they are not able to learn something or do not have much talent, there is good news: many studies (and their number is constantly growing) demonstrate that any brain can be improved with the help of exercises. The human brain is plastic.
Here are 10 key principles for quickly acquiring a skill:
1. Choose an attractive project.
2. Focus on a single skill.
3. Define the target skill level.
4. Split the skill into elements.
5. Prepare everything you need for classes.
6. Remove obstacles to practice.
7. Allocate special time for classes.
8. Create quick feedback loops.
9. Schedule at short, intense intervals.
10. Pay attention to quantity and speed.
In order to pour oneself into the described theory, read Josh Kaufman's book at your leisure, you will find a lot of interesting things in it, and most importantly - a rational approach to studying, which, unfortunately, is not taught in schools or universities. And remember: “We have no rules. We are trying to achieve a result.”
