Goal-Setting, Deliberate Practice, and Dedication: How to Improve at Anything you do!

Have you tried to improve at a sport, skill, school subject, or hobby, but failed to do so quickly or at all? If so, look no further than our step-by-step improvement process! Contrary to common belief, you don't need to be genetically fortunate or "Gifted" to be good at something. In fact, your genes hardly matter at all. No matter what you look like or where you're from, these steps will allow you to improve at your craft substantially and steadily.

author's note: This article is primarily written for kids, but adults can use these methods too!

Goal-Setting

(Skip to the next section if you're already familiar with this)

This is the first, and easest step of the improvement process. Don't overthink this; you just have to identify 1) what you want to improve at, 2) the extent to which you will improve, and 3) the time it will take to do so. Goals can be simple or detailed, easy or difficult, personal or for a group. It's all up to you. Obviously, your goal shouldn't be too easy, as you won't improve. And don't expect to acheive mastery right away. Here's an example: I want to get better at running (1). In 1 year (3), I will be able to run a half marathon (2). Simple, right. Don't worry about "the how part", that comes later.

Learn From An Expert

After you have set a reasonable goal, you'll probably need some assistance to acheive it, preferably from someone who has mastered your craft. Although in person instruction is the most beneficial, there are still plenty of useful instructional videos on the internet if you can't afford a coach or private instructor. (i'm pretty sure youtube can teach you just about anything 😁). Look for videos that provide specific drills or activities that you can practice at home. Make sure to write these down so you can refer to them later.

Deliberate Practice

Ok, at this point you should have already selected some drills or activities to work on. Now, you have to practice them. However, not everyone practices effectively. Studies have shown that the most effective form of practice is one known as deliberate practice. Basically, deliberate practice consists of three main things:

1. Consistency

If you don't practice regularly, you probably won't get better. You should aim to practice 5-7 days each week for best results. If you miss a day or two, that's totally fine. I like to create a simple daily schedule for myself to ensure that i have the time to practice routinely. I don't always follow it perfectly, but it helps me stay focused and productive outside of school hours. For example: 8:30Am to 3PM = School, 3PM to 3:30 PM = Break, 3:30pm to 5pm = Homework, 5pm to 6pm = practice. Also, try to practice for a reasonable amount of time each day.

2. Focus and intention

Here is what separates deliberate practice from typical practice. Some people "practice" for pleasure. Some people do the same monotonous movement over and over and over again. Both of those methods aren't effective. In practicing deliberately, you must first identify what aspects of each drill or activity you struggle with. Then, practice each day with the intention of turning those weaknesses into strengths. Once they become strengths, look for more flaws or weaknesses. (You might need to check your expert's technique again). Then, find new activities that best help you turn those weaknesses into strengths. That's what it means to practice with intention. The most important thing is to aim for improvement every practice and every day. Everyone makes mistakes. However, not everyone recognizes when they do.

3. Effort

Try your hardest to get better, no matter the circumstances. Push yourself beyond your comfort zone.

'Hard work beats talent if talent doesn't work hard" - quote from kevin durant, NBA All-Star

Summary

Just to refresh your memory, these are the key steps to the improvement process:

• Set well-defined goals

• Learn from an Expert (Check back if needed)

• Practice deliberately

• Push yourself beyond your comfort zone

Lastly, I would like to note that there is no magic formula to improvement. This post was just created as a general guide. Feel free to modify it or leave some parts out.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I would say "Good Luck", but we all know that success isn't achieved by luck. IT is achieved by hard work and practice! If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please leave a comment below. To chat with us privately, you can send an email to askbleem@gmail.com. I hope you knock out those goals!

- Brandon, BLEEM Co-Founder