I’m impressed by how accurately this describes learning complex skills.
I’m practicing writing and I feel the same way most of the points describe: as if I’m exploring a system of caves without a map, finding bits and pieces of other explorers (sometimes even meeting them), but it’s all walking a complicated, 3d structure and constantly bumping into unknown unknowns. Let me illustrate it this way: about 3 years ago, when I started on this journey, I thought I would read 1-2 books about writing and I’ll be good. Now, I’m standing in sub-cave system #416, taking a hard look at “creativity”/”new ideas” and chuckling at my younger self who thought that sub-cave system #18 “good sentences” will lead him to the exit.
And even though I haven’t practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since the pandemic began, I see a lot of similarities there. At first, I thought I just have to practice a move. Then I noticed that there are many small variations depending on my energy level, the opponents size and weight, etc. Then I noticed that I could fake moves to lure my opponent into making mistakes, but I should avoid mistakes myself. Then I noticed that my opponents were better in at some moves than others. Then I noticed that my own build gave me certain advantages and disadvantages. Then I noticed...
At the end, just before the lockdowns, I learned a lot about humility and began to discard all the “factual knowledge” I got from youtube videos or books and instead began focusing on sets of small details to explore how they worked in different situations. Then, just practiced it over and over until I saw “the thing”.
I’m impressed by how accurately this describes learning complex skills.
I’m practicing writing and I feel the same way most of the points describe: as if I’m exploring a system of caves without a map, finding bits and pieces of other explorers (sometimes even meeting them), but it’s all walking a complicated, 3d structure and constantly bumping into unknown unknowns. Let me illustrate it this way: about 3 years ago, when I started on this journey, I thought I would read 1-2 books about writing and I’ll be good. Now, I’m standing in sub-cave system #416, taking a hard look at “creativity”/”new ideas” and chuckling at my younger self who thought that sub-cave system #18 “good sentences” will lead him to the exit.
And even though I haven’t practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since the pandemic began, I see a lot of similarities there. At first, I thought I just have to practice a move. Then I noticed that there are many small variations depending on my energy level, the opponents size and weight, etc. Then I noticed that I could fake moves to lure my opponent into making mistakes, but I should avoid mistakes myself. Then I noticed that my opponents were better in at some moves than others. Then I noticed that my own build gave me certain advantages and disadvantages. Then I noticed...
At the end, just before the lockdowns, I learned a lot about humility and began to discard all the “factual knowledge” I got from youtube videos or books and instead began focusing on sets of small details to explore how they worked in different situations. Then, just practiced it over and over until I saw “the thing”.