Nick Velasquez - Learn, Improve, Master: How to Develop Any Skill and Excel at It

In the case of everything perfect we are accustomed to abstain from asking how it became: We rejoice in the present fact as though it came out of the ground by magic.

Friedrich Nietzsche

A young mother holds the body of her dead child across her lap. She looks down at him in a moment of overwhelming love and sorrow, her grief forever captured in stone by one of the greatest artists thats ever lived, Michelangelo Buonarroti. The details of this sculptural masterpiece, the Piet , make us forget we are looking at marble. What we see instead are figures of flesh and drapery so vivid they keep our gaze fixed, awaiting their movement. It is one of the most beautiful works of art ever created.

In response to peoples admiration of his Piet , Michelangelo is supposed to have said, If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it would not seem so wonderful at all. What seemed like the product of pure genius was the result of years of labor and many more learning his craft. We tend to think of mastery as something magical or the consequence of raw talent, but it comes from effort and dedication over many yearsin most cases, a lifetime.

We usually see a masters polished performance or the refined final product of their efforts, but not the process behind it, and so we believe that what they do is beyond our capabilities. We think we dont have the talent or special abilities to do what they do. Its like watching a magic illusion. A magician vanishes a card and makes it reappear in an impossible location. As spectators, we see the end result and are amazed by it. But we do not get a glimpse at the mechanics that made it possible. If we could peek behind the illusion, we would find a process anyone can replicate through the study and practice of sleight of hand.

The same is true when watching a great quarterback playing a championship game, a virtuoso cellist giving a concert, or an inspiring speaker commanding the stage. We look at their performance, not how they developed their skills through a process that we could follow too.

This book is about that process: how to learn, improve, and master any skill. Well look past the smoke and mirrors and study the method that creates the magic. Well begin by exploring the principles of learning and common misconceptions (Foundation). Then, well discuss how to learn anything (part I). After that, well move into improving our abilities and overcoming common challenges (part II). And finally, well get into mastery and the path to pursue it (part III).

While everything well cover throughout the book stands on science, this is not a science book. Ill keep the scientific explanations, research, and studies to a minimum and present them in their simplest form. We can think of it this way: racecar drivers dont need to know all the mechanics or engineering of their cars; their focus is on mastering how to drive them. This will be our approach. Well cover some science of how our mind works, but our main interest will be how to use it. For those interested in going deeper into the science, see the Selected Bibliography section at the end for referenced material.

I divided most chapters into principles and strategies, with each of these sections laid out one major point at a time. The principles are the essence behind the strategies, and once you understand them, you wont be limited to the strategies I give youyoull be able to come up with your own. As pioneer efficiency engineer and management theorist Harrington Emerson noted, As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble. That said, youll still find many strategies and tactics to have immediate actionable steps.

Whether you are taking on a new skill or already working on one, these pages will serve as a companion guide to help you learn and master your craft. Ill share with you everything Ive learned through years researching and studying cognitive science, top performance, and mastery. Ill show you how to optimize your process and give you the tools to make your dream of excelling at a sport, music, art, (or anything else) a reality.