Two Phases of Skill Growth

There are two phases of skill growth. One requires solo work, the other requires help.

There is a phase when you are developing a skill when doing it every day will lead to inevitable improvement. If you do sit-ups every day, you will get better. If you sing every day, if you play every day, if you write every day, if you practice language every day, if you run every day….you will get better.

But there is another phase where your growth requires more than consistency. It requires intention, research, and feedback to continue growth. Without that work, your continued daily effort will lead not to growth, but to stasis.

I’m a big proponent of adopting daily practices (this, after all, is my 6-year anniversary of daily writing here!) but it’s important to recognize when the daily practice is no longer significant in affecting growth.

Then it’s time to find a teacher, a mentor, an editor. Someone to help you transform your daily practice and continue your growth. Know yourself and what phase of skill growth you are in.