Practice should feel awkward

When I practice something hard, I feel like I'm dancing with two left feet. While it's uncomfortable, I know that this is time well-spent if I want to actually learn a new skill. And as my grandmother says, "if were easy, everyone would do it."

Learning takes determination and time. There are no shortcuts. If practice doesn't feel awkward, I know I'm not pushing myself hard enough. The question isn't whether I can learn it; it's whether I have enough determination.

Sometimes you just need to log flight time. Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 hour rule asserts that you need to practice a skill for 10,000 hours to become a world class expert. The same concept applies to less ambitious goals like learning basic three ball juggling. Since time is limited, it's important to choose the skills I want to master carefully.