My kids both play instruments. My daughter piano and cello, and my son piano and viola. In addition to their in-school and private lesson instruction, they each practice both instruments several times a week.
They also both play sports. My daughter tennis, and my son – well, its easier to list the sports he doesn’t play (shotput.) They each practice several days a week.
My own pastimes veer less physical. I have an affinity towards puzzles of all kinds. I have gotten good at all of these from years and years of practice working on them.
There is really no alternative to practicing to get better at something. Much better. Whether you believe in the 10,000 hour theory or not, nobody becomes exceptional by mailing it in.
I learned this again when I attended a workshop at work last week. On the first day, a high-energy and friendly colleague walked in to facilitate. I knew her socially but we hadn’t worked together much. Shameful admission: for the first ten minutes, I underestimated her. She had several (what seemed like) kitschy ice breakers and activities for us to participate in though the two-day workshop. She was armed with whiteboards and Post-its and strict rules about Sharpie markers.
About 10 minutes in, I had been completely engaged. As someone who regularly presents to large groups that aren’t always friendly, I was floored. Her ability to draw in the group, and create an environment where we were immediately collaborative and productive was not like anything I had ever seen.
I had to knowhow she got so good at this. At the first break, I walked right up to her and said, “You are so good at this! How did you learn to do this?” She thanked me, demurring. But I pressed on, “No really, how did you learn this?”
Her answer surprised me, thought it shouldn’t have. “Practice. Lots of practice.” It didn’t even occur to me that someone could get good at that skillset through practice, rather than have innate talent or transferable skills from a different domain, (like performing arts.)
Practice. Wow.