# Deliberate Practice Deliberate practice is focused, effortful training designed to improve specific aspects of performance. [[Anders Ericsson]]'s research shows that [[Expertise]] comes not from mere experience but from structured practice with clear goals, immediate feedback, and activities just beyond current ability. The "10,000 hours" rule (Gladwell) oversimplifies—what matters is *how* you practice, not just hours. Key features: it's not fun (requires effort at the edge of ability), requires feedback, targets weaknesses, and involves mental representations. Musicians practice difficult passages, not easy ones. Chess players study positions, not just play games. Deliberate practice explains why some improve with experience while others plateau. ## Key Features | Feature | Description | |---------|-------------| | Specific goals | Target particular skills | | Immediate feedback | Know what to improve | | Outside comfort zone | Stretch current ability | | Full attention | Not mindless repetition | ## References - Ericsson, Anders. *Peak* (2016) ## Related - [[Anders Ericsson]] - [[Expertise]] - [[Grit]] - [[Skill Acquisition]]