To truly evaluate a new skill, you must move beyond initial awkwardness and gather sufficient data. A single attempt is not a valid test. Commit to practicing any new technique at least 20 times before deciding if it works. This framework provides enough repetitions to overcome discomfort, begin seeing patterns in results, and make an informed judgment on its effectiveness.
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It is a common human fallacy to blame the tool or technique when a first attempt fails. More often, the problem lies not with the method but with its execution. Before concluding a strategy 'doesn't work,' you must first re-evaluate your own steps, identify potential errors, and try again. This shift towards personal accountability is essential for genuine skill development.
Techniques that yield the best results often feel unnatural at first because they challenge your existing habits. Pushing through this initial discomfort is crucial. For instance, strategically using silence in negotiations feels awkward but leads to better deals. The discomfort is temporary, but the improved results are permanent, making the initial struggle a worthwhile investment.
When introducing a new skill like user interviews, initially focus on quantity over quality. Creating a competition for the "most interviews" helps people put in the reps needed to build muscle memory. This vanity metric should be temporary and replaced with quality-focused measures once the habit is formed.
Instead of scrapping your entire sales script after a bad call, make one small tweak. Test that change over a significant number of conversations (e.g., 10) to validate its effectiveness with data before making further adjustments. This prevents overreacting to single failures.
Newcomers to sales often fail when they fixate on immediate outcomes. The key is to embrace the learning process—making dials, fumbling through conversations, and learning from mistakes. Competence and results are byproducts of consistent effort over time.
To become a great speaker, Anthony Trucks recorded a 90-second video every night for 3.5 years. This consistent, low-stakes practice built skill and confidence when no one was watching. Mastery comes not from occasional grand efforts but from relentless daily reps that forge a new identity.
Instead of gradually easing into a new skill, jump in completely to get an immediate, honest assessment of your abilities. This “cannonball” approach bypasses the procrastination of playing it safe and provides a clear starting point for targeted improvement, especially when training with experts.
Don't get stuck trying to perfect your strategy. Commit to a high volume of action first. The pain of inefficiency from doing the work will naturally motivate you to learn and optimize your process, leading to mastery faster.
To become an expert at webinars, Amy Porterfield performed hundreds of them for affiliates. By committing to 3-4 presentations a week for anyone who said 'yes,' she accumulated the practical experience necessary for mastery. True skill development requires putting in the repetitions.
Simply practicing a new skill is inefficient. A more effective learning loop involves four steps: 1) Reflect to fully understand the concept, 2) Identify a meaningful application, 3) Practice in a low-stakes environment, and 4) Reflect again on what worked and what didn't to refine your approach.
