A recent article in the New York Times by the acclaimed authors of Freakonomics
- Practice makes perfect. Trite, but actually true.
- Deliberate practice is best. This naturally includes repetition, but also requires goal setting, feedback and an increased focus on proper technique.
- Do what you love. This is an extension of the first two points; most people won’t put in the time to get good at something they don’t truly love.
I find this article really encouraging on a number of fronts. First, it’s heartening to know that there’s little stopping you from excelling at something you really want to get good at. And secondly, even if you’re not the type to know what you really want to excel at, it makes sense to keep doing what you enjoy and love. Who knows, maybe someday your little two-bit hobby could end up paying the bills (and then some). 
-JL
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Good post and cool article! This reminds me of the Time magazine article “The Hidden Secrets of the Creative Mind”. The premise is the same but this article focuses on creativity. It’s a pretty good read:
http://rso2005.blogspot.com/2006/01/hidden-secrets-of-creative-mind.html
Thanks for the link, that article is pretty interesting! That article takes the perspective that creativity is a positive attribute to contribute to success, and in general I agree. I’ve also heard the converse that *too* much creativity can be harmful at the cost of focus and being able to see a project through to the end. Like most things in life, it’s a matter of balancing two extremes.
This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading the title ice makes perfect. Really. at How to Start a Two-Bit Operation: Small Business Tips. Thanks for informative article