Deliberate Practice (DP) in Brief

Goals

1. Describe Deliberate Practice (DP).
2. Skillfully apply DP to
   1. Accomplish things (reach goals)
   2. Develop expertise (learn things)

What?

Deliberate Practice (DP) is a research-backed method for learning and accomplishing. It combines doing and learning into a single integrated process, rather than treating them as separate activities.

With DP, you make real progress by developing essential skills and empowering knowledge while actively working toward meaningful goals.

What Can You Learn with DP?

You can learn anything from knowledge-based subjects to complex skills, including:

• Law, chemistry, statistics, calculus, French, marketing
  
• Tennis, rugby, welding, plumbing, baking
  
• Selling, leading, parenting, managing, critical thinking
  
• Active listening, effective communication, running meetings, being charismatic

What Can You Accomplish with DP?

You can also use DP to achieve ambitious goals, such as:

• Starting a business, writing a screenplay, earning a PhD
  
• Winning an election or championship, designing and building a house
  
• Automating your bookkeeping, doubling business revenue
  
• Traveling to Spain, reorganizing a messy garage, improving your marketing

Why Use DP

1. Deeply Rewarding – The process itself is enjoyable, motivating, and often even addictive in a positive way.
2. Effective – It works. Individuals and groups succeed when they use it.
3. Minimizes Drawbacks – DP reduces stress, frustration, wasted effort, and cost by focusing only on what matters.
4. Simplicity – The same simple steps apply everywhere: at school, in companies, on teams, in families, and in personal growth. Whether you’re working alone or with a group, DP stays the same.

How to Apply DP

1. Set a Clear Goal
Describe what you want to be true in the future. Make it measurable, meaningful, and motivating.

2. Identify the Fundamentals
Break the goal into essential building blocks—small steps or skills that are required for success. Make sure they are: - Essential – each one matters - Collectively sufficient – together they lead to the goal

3. Use Growth Loops (GAGL: Get → Apply → Grow)
For each fundamental, go through this loop:

• Get high-quality information from trusted sources (books, experts, videos, tools).
• Apply what you’ve learned in the real world, even if imperfectly.
• Grow by reflecting on what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve.

Repeat the loop. As each fundamental improves, connect them together and build toward your goal. This path feels like walking a beautiful trail—step by step—toward something great.