Purposeful Practicing (Part 1)

“If we follow the mastery process long enough, inspired by a profound interest and curiosity we cannot fail to achieve something exceptional.” — Robert Greene

Purposeful practice is serving the tennis ball 20, 35, or 50 times until the serve is “near perfect”. It is working on a piano scales every day without fail until the fingering is so automatic, the fingers fly across the keys. It is commiting to something so many times that it becomes a purposeful routine that gets you closer to mastery.

You become so good, they can’t ignore you. These practices, whether guided or independent, provides the kind of extended learning needed to hone your craft. It’s the utimate process that leads to mastery.

Purposeful practice demands focus and insance concentration on a skill, problem, or even a project beyong the ordinary. It is a long-term commitment with a single goal in mind. Every activity is strategically designed to purposefully improve perfomance.

The difference between proficient and expert performances often depends on the amount and quality of practice.