In the world of career development, the idea of mastery and true expertise isn’t just about working hard—it’s about working smart. Deliberate practice, a concept rooted deeply in the pursuit of skill refinement, stands as the ultimate strategy for acquiring career capital. By focusing on stretching one’s abilities and constantly improving through targeted, purposeful effort, professionals can accelerate their growth in any field. This article explores how the craftsman mindset—embracing deliberate practice—can be integrated into your own career to build lasting success.
Why Is Jordan Tice a Better Guitar Player than Cal Newport?
Jordan Tice and Cal Newport both began their musical journeys at the age of twelve, an age when many young people first encounter the world of music with wide-eyed enthusiasm. For Cal, his first guitar was a symbol of a new creative outlet. He started with the basics—taking lessons and playing regularly, developing his skill by practicing every day. By the time he graduated high school, Cal had a repertoire of hundreds of songs ranging from Green Day to Pink Floyd. He played in a band named Rocking Chair, performing at various shows, including an impromptu gig in a graveyard. His dedication to the craft, though notable, had limits—he primarily stuck to what he knew well and avoided stretching himself too far beyond his comfort zone.
On the other hand, Jordan Tice’s musical development took a radically different trajectory. By the time he finished high school, Jordan was already a seasoned professional, playing with experienced bluegrass musicians and securing a record deal. His path didn’t follow the same steps as Cal’s. While both Jordan and Cal had the same number of years invested in playing guitar, the key difference lay not in the hours spent practicing, but in how they approached their practice sessions and the choices they made in their musical education.
Jordan’s early lessons were more challenging. His first guitar teacher emphasized playing by ear, rather than relying on written music or easy chord charts. Jordan learned to pick out complicated lead guitar parts from Allman Brothers songs and other intricate music, which demanded not only technical skill but also mental effort. This kind of practice, though difficult, was rewarding. It constantly pushed Jordan beyond his limits, forcing him to focus on skills that weren’t comfortable at first. He relished the challenge, and his teacher provided immediate feedback to correct any mistakes—an essential part of Jordan’s musical growth. This feedback loop, paired with Jordan’s willingness to embrace discomfort, gave him an edge in becoming a more accomplished player faster than Cal.
In contrast, Cal recalls feeling a sense of discomfort whenever he had to perform something new or unfamiliar. He would learn songs but avoid challenging himself with anything too complex. The mental strain of playing a song that wasn’t ingrained in muscle memory was something he actively avoided. In the early days, he clung to songs once they became familiar, staying within his comfort zone. Even when he was in his band, Rocking Chair, he resisted the urge to try out new music that was outside of his established skill set. This reluctance to push through discomfort meant that while Cal gained proficiency, his growth as a guitarist was slower compared to Jordan’s.
The difference between Jordan and Cal’s musical abilities wasn’t simply the amount of time spent practicing; it was the approach to practice. Jordan didn’t just play; he practiced with a purpose, constantly stretching his abilities. His willingness to tackle challenging material, make mistakes, and learn from feedback created a learning environment that fostered rapid growth. Meanwhile, Cal’s more cautious approach, though diligent, lacked the same intensity of self-challenge and continuous feedback, which slowed his development compared to Jordan.
The Craft of Deliberate Practice
Deliberate practice is a concept that extends far beyond music or chess—it is a universal approach to mastering any skill. The heart of deliberate practice lies in its focused, goal-driven nature. Unlike casual practice, where repetition of tasks without purpose can lead to stagnation, deliberate practice is an intentional effort to improve specific aspects of performance. It requires not only time and effort but a mindset that values stretching one’s abilities, embracing discomfort, and seeking continuous feedback.
In the case of Jordan Tice, his approach to the guitar illustrates what deliberate practice looks like in action. Every time he sat down to play, his goal wasn’t just to play for the sake of playing; it was to improve. He didn’t shy away from mentally taxing activities, such as playing complex lead parts by ear. This type of practice wasn’t easy or fun in the traditional sense—it was about pushing his boundaries and embracing the discomfort of learning something difficult. Deliberate practice is all about this discomfort. It forces you to confront your weaknesses and challenges you to break past your existing limitations. The growth comes not from playing things that you already do well, but from the parts that stretch you the most.
Deliberate practice involves several key principles:
- Stretching beyond current abilities: The core of deliberate practice is to work on skills that are just beyond your current ability level. It’s about continually pushing your boundaries, whether in music, chess, or professional life. For Jordan, this meant playing songs that challenged him, constantly stepping outside his comfort zone.
- Focused effort: It’s not enough to simply go through the motions; deliberate practice requires full attention. When Jordan played, his focus was not just on the music but on mastering the technique and nuances. This concentration is critical for progress in any field.
- Feedback: Immediate and constructive feedback is crucial. Jordan received constant feedback from his teacher, which allowed him to identify mistakes, correct them quickly, and improve in real-time. This feedback loop accelerates learning by preventing mistakes from becoming ingrained.
Deliberate practice is not only for musicians or athletes—it’s applicable in every profession. Take chess, for example. The best players in the world don’t simply play games—they study positions, solve complex puzzles, and analyze their performances. They know exactly what areas of their game need improvement, and they focus their practice sessions on these weaknesses. This is the essence of deliberate practice: focused, intentional improvement.
In business or knowledge work, deliberate practice works similarly. It’s about identifying the specific skills or areas in which you are lacking and focusing on improving them. It requires a mindset shift from doing tasks you already excel at to seeking challenges that will make you better. For example, if you’re a writer, it might mean working on writing techniques that you find difficult—like crafting compelling dialogue or writing in a new genre. If you’re a manager, it might involve improving your leadership skills by handling more complex team dynamics.
The idea is that deliberate practice isn’t about putting in hours for the sake of it. Instead, it’s about making each hour count—focusing on specific weaknesses, receiving feedback, and continually pushing yourself to improve. It’s a methodical, goal-oriented approach to skill development that leads to continuous improvement over time. Without this kind of practice, most professionals will eventually plateau and struggle to make progress, as Cal Newport did with his guitar playing. Only through deliberate practice can someone break through those plateaus and continue growing, just like Jordan did with his music.
How to Become a Grand Master
The path to mastery in any field is often long and arduous, requiring more than just innate talent. It requires an understanding of the deliberate practice methods that separate the extraordinary from the ordinary. One of the best ways to explore the science of skill acquisition is through chess, which provides an excellent framework for studying deliberate practice. Chess is not only intellectually demanding but also offers a clear metric for measuring progress—the Elo rating system. This system assigns a numerical score to each player, reflecting their performance against other players. A higher score means better performance, and reaching a peak score is considered a benchmark of excellence in the game.
In chess, as in many other complex fields, becoming a grandmaster requires years of practice and study. It’s not enough to play countless games, which might seem like a good way to get better. Instead, the most successful players spend a significant portion of their time analyzing positions, studying previous games, and solving problems designed to improve specific areas of their play. This type of focused study goes beyond simply playing matches; it’s about refining the mental models that govern decision-making and constantly looking for ways to improve performance.
The relationship between chess and deliberate practice is illustrated through the story of Garry Kasparov, one of the greatest chess players of all time. Kasparov’s success was not solely due to his natural talent, but to the intense, methodical practice he engaged in throughout his career. He spent hours every day studying new openings, learning from his mistakes, and working with coaches to continuously fine-tune his approach to the game. Even though Kasparov had an incredible amount of talent, it was his commitment to constant improvement, the application of deliberate practice, that allowed him to reach the heights he did.
The process of becoming a grandmaster isn’t only about working hard; it’s about working smart. Chess grandmasters don’t just put in a large number of hours; they focus on the aspects of the game that matter most, particularly those that challenge their current level of ability. It’s through this focused effort, combined with continuous feedback, that one can progress from a novice to an expert. The same principle applies to every field, whether in sports, music, writing, or business. The key to success is pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, focusing on areas of weakness, and always striving to improve.
The 10,000-Hour Rule and Beyond
The idea that expertise requires a specific amount of time—usually around 10,000 hours—has been popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers. This “10,000-hour rule” suggests that to truly master any complex skill, whether it’s playing an instrument, becoming a chess grandmaster, or excelling in a professional field, one must commit to around 10,000 hours of deliberate practice. While this idea has gained widespread attention, the underlying concept is more nuanced than simply accumulating hours.
Research conducted by Neil Charness and others has shown that while 10,000 hours of practice may be a good starting point, it is not the number of hours that matters most. What truly differentiates experts from amateurs is how those hours are spent. Studies have found that top performers—whether in chess, sports, or other fields—spend a significant portion of their practice on focused, deliberate activities that challenge their weaknesses and allow them to improve systematically. For instance, in Charness’s study of chess players, it was not just the total number of hours spent playing the game that determined success, but how those hours were distributed between actual gameplay and focused study.
This concept can also be applied to other disciplines. Consider the example of Jordan Tice. While he had spent a lot of time playing the guitar, he focused his efforts on learning challenging songs by ear, which demanded significant mental effort and pushed him beyond his comfort zone. This kind of practice, while difficult, ensured that his time was spent meaningfully, consistently improving his skills. By comparison, someone who spent the same amount of time playing guitar but only focused on songs they already knew well would likely hit a plateau much earlier.
What this research suggests is that simply putting in the hours is not enough—true mastery comes from practicing with intention and focusing on areas where improvement is most needed. This is where the 10,000-hour rule falls short: it’s not just about working hard; it’s about working smart. To truly get better, you must identify what areas need improvement, focus your practice on those areas, and embrace the discomfort that comes with pushing your limits.
Alex Berger and Mike Jackson: Real-World Examples
To fully understand how deliberate practice works in real-world settings, we can turn to the stories of Alex Berger, a television writer, and Mike Jackson, a venture capitalist. Both have demonstrated the power of deliberate practice in their respective careers, showing that the principles of continuous learning and feedback are crucial to success in any field.
Alex Berger’s rise to becoming a co-creator of a successful television series provides a clear example of how deliberate practice can accelerate one’s career. When Alex first entered the television industry, he was working as an assistant at NBC. But he didn’t see this as a passive role; he saw it as an opportunity to learn and improve. Alex worked on writing scripts for a variety of projects, including pilots and spec scripts, all while holding down his day job. His approach to writing was not about just churning out material; it was about stretching his abilities. He constantly sought feedback, eagerly asking colleagues and industry professionals to critique his work. This feedback, though sometimes harsh, became a crucial tool in his growth as a writer.
What made Alex’s path so successful was his obsession with improving. He didn’t wait for opportunities to fall into his lap; he sought them out. He was committed to practicing his craft in every spare moment and was willing to accept criticism, even if it made him uncomfortable. By the time he made the transition from assistant to co-creator, he had already honed his skills through years of deliberate practice, making his transition into a major role in the industry a natural progression.
Mike Jackson’s story mirrors Alex’s in many ways. Mike’s journey into venture capitalism began with his dedication to understanding renewable energy markets. He didn’t just study theory; he threw himself into real-world projects that stretched his knowledge and skills. Mike’s first major project was an international research initiative, where he took on a leadership role that was beyond his current experience. This initial challenge forced Mike to learn quickly, and the feedback he received—whether from peers, professors, or in the form of project outcomes—was crucial in his development.
As Mike moved into the world of start-ups and eventually venture capitalism, he continued to practice deliberate improvement. In his current role, he uses a detailed spreadsheet to track how he spends his time, ensuring that he focuses on activities that will push him further in his career. He consciously avoids distractions, such as spending too much time on low-priority tasks like answering emails. Instead, he dedicates his time to high-impact activities, such as fundraising, conducting due diligence, and working with portfolio companies. This method of tracking and adjusting his time ensures that he is consistently focused on areas that will help him grow.
Both Alex and Mike exemplify the principles of deliberate practice in knowledge work. They didn’t just wait for success to come—they actively worked on improving their skills through focused, deliberate effort. Their commitment to feedback, whether from colleagues, clients, or the market, allowed them to continually refine their abilities. These stories illustrate how deliberate practice can be applied across various industries, showing that the principles of stretching your abilities and seeking constant improvement are universal keys to success.
The Five Habits of a Craftsman
The stories of Alex Berger and Mike Jackson illustrate how deliberate practice can be applied to knowledge work, but translating this concept into your own career can be challenging. The key to adopting the craftsman mindset—where deliberate practice becomes the core strategy for growth—lies in forming habits that consistently stretch your abilities and allow you to acquire the career capital needed to excel. In this section, we’ll explore five critical habits that can help you apply the principles of deliberate practice to your career.
Step 1: Decide What Capital Market You’re In
Before you can begin deliberately practicing, it’s important to first understand the market you’re competing in. The field you work in can be classified as either a winner-take-all market or an auction market. Understanding this distinction will help you focus your efforts on acquiring the right type of career capital.
In a winner-take-all market, only one type of career capital is valuable—skills that are specific and easily identifiable, and they often directly correlate with career success. Examples of winner-take-all markets include television writing, professional sports, and acting. In these markets, your value is determined by a single, highly sought-after skill: writing, playing a sport, or performing on screen. If you’re a television writer, for example, your ability to write engaging, high-quality scripts is what matters most, and everything else, such as networking or personal branding, takes a backseat.
On the other hand, auction markets are more varied, offering a wider range of skills and types of capital that contribute to success. In these markets, you can create a unique combination of skills that sets you apart from others. Mike Jackson’s career in venture capitalism, for example, existed in an auction market. He didn’t just have one skill that made him valuable; he cultivated expertise in various areas, including renewable energy markets, entrepreneurship, and research, all of which gave him a unique position in the industry.
Understanding what kind of market you are in helps you avoid wasting time on skills that won’t add significant value in your field. If you’re in a winner-take-all market, you need to focus all your efforts on perfecting the one skill that will make you stand out. In an auction market, on the other hand, you have more flexibility to develop a diverse skill set. Knowing this early on can help you channel your efforts into the right areas for maximum impact.
Step 2: Identify Your Capital Type
Once you’ve determined which type of market you are operating in, the next step is to identify the capital type that will lead to success. This step is crucial because it helps you understand exactly what kind of skills or abilities you need to focus on to advance in your career.
In a winner-take-all market, this is relatively simple. For example, if you’re a television writer, the capital you need is the ability to write high-quality scripts. If you’re a professional athlete, your capital is your athletic ability and performance. The path to success in these markets is straightforward: continuously hone the skills that are directly linked to your career success.
However, in auction markets, the process is more complex because there are multiple types of capital. For instance, Mike Jackson’s journey into venture capitalism required him to build expertise in areas such as entrepreneurship, leadership, and renewable energy. As he gained more experience, he could selectively choose which type of capital he would build on next, based on his evolving goals and opportunities. In auction markets, capital can be a combination of specialized knowledge, leadership qualities, relationships, and even personal traits such as perseverance or creativity.
A useful approach for identifying the right capital to pursue is to look for open gates—opportunities that are available to you and can quickly help you acquire valuable capital. For Mike Jackson, one of his open gates was his connection to Stanford University, where he worked with a professor on an environmental-policy research project. This opportunity was open to him because of his academic background and connections, allowing him to quickly build valuable expertise. For others, an open gate might be an internship, a mentorship, or an early job that gives you access to specialized knowledge or networks that can accelerate your career development.
By identifying the right capital type and focusing on open gates, you can make meaningful progress in acquiring the skills and experience that will set you apart from others in your field.
Step 3: Define “Good”
One of the biggest challenges in mastering any skill is defining what “good” looks like. Without a clear understanding of what success means in your field, it’s difficult to create a focused strategy for improvement. The key here is to define what “good” looks like in a way that is specific, measurable, and aligned with your career goals.
In the case of Alex Berger, for example, his definition of “good” was clear: he wanted his scripts to be taken seriously by talent agencies. This specific goal helped him focus on improving the quality of his writing, particularly on projects that had the potential to get him noticed in the competitive entertainment industry. Similarly, Jordan Tice’s definition of “good” in his guitar playing was always about mastering more complicated techniques and lead parts. He knew that to become a great guitarist, he needed to push his limits constantly by tackling challenging material.
Defining “good” for yourself means setting clear, achievable goals that align with your ultimate career vision. Whether it’s writing a script that lands you an agent, mastering a difficult skill in your profession, or reaching a particular benchmark of performance, having a concrete idea of what success looks like will give you direction and purpose in your practice. Additionally, setting specific goals allows you to track your progress and measure the effectiveness of your practice strategies, making it easier to course-correct if needed.
Step 4: Stretch and Destroy
Deliberate practice is inherently uncomfortable. It requires you to stretch your abilities and step outside your comfort zone. This feeling of discomfort is necessary because growth happens when you challenge yourself, especially in areas where you are weakest. However, it’s not just about pushing your limits—it’s also about embracing feedback that can destroy your existing understanding of what is “good.”
Feedback is often where the most difficult growth occurs. In the case of Alex Berger, for instance, he regularly sought feedback on his scripts, even if it was harsh. He remembers feeling embarrassed by the quality of some of his earlier work, but he recognized that this feedback was essential for his improvement. Every critique, no matter how painful, helped him identify areas for growth and refine his craft. Similarly, Jordan Tice’s guitar practice was built around immediate feedback from his teacher, who would step in when Jordan made mistakes, ensuring that he didn’t ingrained bad habits.
The process of “stretching and destroying” your previous understanding of what’s good is a crucial step in deliberate practice. This is where true growth occurs: when you confront the limits of your abilities, receive honest feedback, and adjust your approach accordingly. It’s in this discomfort that the most significant improvements are made. Without this willingness to fail, learn, and adapt, you would remain stagnant, unable to push beyond a certain level of competence.
Step 5: Be Patient
One of the most important habits in the pursuit of mastery is patience. Deliberate practice is not a quick fix—it takes time to see the results. This is especially true for complex skills where progress can feel slow and incremental. The key is to commit to the long game and stay focused on the process, even when it feels like you’re not making rapid progress.
Steve Martin, in his memoir, talks about the importance of diligence and patience in his success. He had a long-term view of his career, knowing that if he stuck with his craft for decades, he would eventually reach a high level of proficiency. His willingness to remain dedicated to the process, despite the inevitable frustrations, allowed him to reach a level of mastery over time.
Similarly, Alex Berger and Mike Jackson both recognized that success wouldn’t come overnight. Alex spent years writing scripts and soliciting feedback before landing a significant role in television. Mike, too, had to grind through multiple stages of his career, learning from his early ventures before moving into venture capitalism. The patience to continue improving, even when progress seems slow, is a hallmark of anyone who achieves mastery.
In the world of career capital, patience is an essential ingredient. It’s easy to become disheartened when immediate results aren’t forthcoming, but it’s the long-term commitment to deliberate practice that ultimately leads to extraordinary success.
Conclusion: The Power of Deliberate Practice
Becoming a craftsman in any field requires more than just putting in the hours. It requires deliberate practice—a methodical approach to improving your skills through consistent effort, constant feedback, and stretching your abilities beyond what’s comfortable. By embracing this mindset, professionals can acquire the career capital necessary to excel and stand out in their industries. Whether you’re learning an instrument, writing scripts, or building a business, the principles of deliberate practice can be your key to unlocking greater success and fulfillment in your career.