What Looks Like Talent Or Skill is Often Persistent Practice
By: Thomas Oppong
Tags: Creativity, Artist, Self, Productivity, Success

What Looks Like Talent Or Skill is Often Persistent Practice

Behind every skill, there are hours of constant repetition

Persistence is one of the most underrated skills to become great at what you do. There’s nothing more valuable than persistence, perseverance, and commitment.

The expression “practice makes perfect” sounds very obvious but only a few people can push themselves that far to reap the enormous benefit of practice.

It’s easy to underestimate the value of practice. For a new skill to become automatic or for new knowledge to become long-lasting, sustained and deep practice is necessary.

Pablo Picasso once said, “It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.”

Some people may be genetically constructed to have a knack for certain things — they don’t have to take the same number of steps as the rest of us to get good.

But when you start to believe that talent is the most essential piece to the puzzle of success, you’ve built up a wall all on your own that will only lead to failure in life.

Calvin Coolidge could not have said it better when he once said, “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

You can be good and even great at something without being naturally talented. When two individuals are equally talented, only effort or practice will make the difference.

There is an old saying that with your hands in your pockets you cannot climb the ladder of success! Talent can do nothing without perseverance!

John Wooden once said, “Judge yourself not by what you have achieved but by what you should have achieved with the talent at your disposal”.

The biggest difference between you and Picasso or Einstein, or the most creative minds of our time is that they embraced the long road to mastery.

They spent more time applying their minds and souls to the one thing they wanted to do. When you make everything a skill instead of a talent, the entire world opens up.

With the right mindset, you’re ready for the other half of the battle. “Deep practice is not simply about struggling; it’s about seeking a particular struggle, which involves a cycle of distinct actions, ” writes Daniel Coyle, in his book The Talent Code.

Behind every skill, there are hours of constant repetition

“The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense.”― Thomas A. Edison

The value of persistence comes from a vision of the future that’s so compelling you would trade qaulity time to make it real.Persistence of action comes from persistence of vision.

When you’re super-clear about what you want in such a way that your vision doesn’t change much, you’ll be more consistent — and persistent — in your actions. And that consistency of action will produce consistency of results.

Deep and consistent practice is not an option if you want to become a better writer, athlete, salesperson, artist, developer or entrepreneur.

It’s not simply about hustling, its about seeking a specific struggle, which involves a cycle of distinct actions.

You pick the bigger goal, work backwards to reach it, and keep measuring and refining the reach to become smarter in the process as you get closer.

People give up too soon because they have the wrong expectations of themselves and the outcome. They expect the way to be easy, and they are surprised when they find the reality to be the opposite. Their enthusiasm quickly melts and they lose heart.

Remember, there is no such thing as cheap success. Expect a hard way, not an easy one, and you will be mentally prepared when you encounter the reality.

Practice also makes perfect science. Einstein persisted and stayed with problems longer to make sure he found exactly what he was looking for. He once said “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”

Persistence allows you to keep taking action even when you don’t feel motivated to do so, and therefore you keep accumulating results.

On Dec. 10, 1914, a massive explosion erupted in West Orange, New Jersey. Ten buildings in legendary inventor Thomas Edison’s plant, which made up more than half of the site, were engulfed in flames. Machinery worth millions and all the papers pertaining to his lifelong research were burnt to ashes.

Later, at the scene of the blaze, Edison was quoted in The New York Times as saying, “Although I am over 67 years old, I’ll start all over again tomorrow.”

Thomas Edison’s persistence was exemplified in his famous quote, “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.”

A.H. Wilson, his vice president and general manager, told The Times after the flames died down: “There’s only one thing to do, and that is to jump right in and rebuild.”

Names like Picasso, Mozart, Abraham Lincoln, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Elon Musk should remind you about the importance of persistence. And why it pays to keep on trying.

Dale Carnegie said, “ Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.”

To improve your performance in almost any skill, practice frequently, get a lot of feedback that can help you practice correctly, do more of what works and keep enhancing the right things to continue climbing.