Deep Practice

“Deep practice is built on a paradox: struggling in certain targeted ways – operating at the edges of your ability, where you make mistakes – makes you smarter.” Daniel Coyle in his book The Talent Code

The quote is a fundamental truth about skill development and growth. It underscores the paradoxical nature of learning: it is through struggling in precise and deliberate ways, pushing oneself to the edges of one’s abilities and occasionally making mistakes, that true intelligence and mastery are cultivated. This concept of “deep practice” implies that the discomfort and errors in the learning process are not setbacks but stepping stones to becoming smarter and more proficient. It encourages us to embrace challenges and see them as opportunities for improvement, ultimately reshaping our understanding of the learning journey itself.