DISQUS

Alex Wright · 11 months ago

In Malcolm Gladwell's newest book, Outliers, he presents the theory that someone needs at least 10,000 hours of practice to become a true master at something. Examples given are Musicians in Symphonies, Professional Athletes, and Bill Gates.

Mark Dykeman · 11 months ago

I'm reading Outliers right now - good book, if a bit depressing.

Alex Wright · 11 months ago

Yeah, I feel like even at just 21, I've already wasted my life playing video games and trying to get girls to like me.....these interests and issues therein may not be mutually exclusive.

hdbbstephen · 11 months ago

Success comes from the consistent execution of the fundamentals. And that only comes from practice.

Mark Dykeman · 11 months ago

For mental pursuits as well, then?

Andrea_R · 11 months ago

Ah, but in the knowledge-based industry, if you are constantly looking up the same things, then they aren't sticking in your mind. maybe the person isn't invested in "remembering" it, maybe it's something not used enough. Like Stephen said above me - if you are constantly using the fundamentals, you won't need practice.

I can even give a good example: I am constantly looking up how to create horizontal menus via CSS. Sure, it's relatively easy once you read the code and understand. But a part of me doesn't want to remember or something, as it is easier to just copy and paste the code I need and make adjustments.

Then again, it's something I use only occasionally. It's not like I'm always looking up how to style links.

Mark Dykeman · 11 months ago

What about, say, website design (start to finish)? Any advantage to memorizing those steps or does it just come with doing it all of the time?

Andrea_R · 11 months ago

I'm not sure how much you can memorize. unless by repetition it sticks and become rote. Is it the fact I do it over and over what makes me remember it? interesting. :)

Miragi · 11 months ago

We're all wired differently so different skills and talents are going to stick in our minds, and others may never gel. But yes, practice is a necessity, especially if you're going to be doing something for many years to come, and even more so if you have difficulty retaining the necessary skills.

Sticky notes and cheat sheets are a security blanket.....especially for those who have such a tremendous influx of information that has to come in and go out on a regular basis. So, requiring practice of basic skills may not be the point. With the increase in lay offs, more and more work is piled on fewer desks, there needs to be more focus on helping those left to do the work learn more NEW skills in effectively managing a larger work load.

Mark Dykeman · 11 months ago

Well, that and creating more new jobs.