Practice Perfect

Rules for developing talent with disciplined, deliberate, intelligent practice We live in a competition loving culture. We love the performance, the big win, the ticking seconds of the clock as the game comes down to the wire. We watch games and cheer, sometimes to the point of obsession, but if we really wanted to see greatness--wanted to cheer for it, see it happen, understand what made it happen--we'd spend our time watching, obsessing on, and maybe even cheering the practices instead. This book puts practice on the front burner of all who seek to instill talent and achievement in others as well as in themselves. This is a journey to understand that practice, not games, makes champions. In this book, the authors engage the dream of better, both in fields and endeavors where participants know they should practice and also in those where many do not yet recognize the transformative power of practice. And it's not just whether you practice. How you practice may be a true competitive advantage. Deliberately engineered and designed practice can revolutionize our most important endeavors. The clear set of rules presented in Practice Perfect will make us better in virtually every performance of life. The "how-to" rules of practice cover such topics as rethinking practice, modeling excellent practice, using feedback, creating a culture of practice, making new skills stick, and hiring for practice. * Discover new ways to think about practice. Learn how to design successful practice. Apply practice across a wide range of realms, both personal and professional * The authors include specific activities to jump-start practice * Doug Lemov is the best-selling author of Teach Like a Champion A handson resource to practice, the rules within will help to create positive outliers and worldchanging reservoirs of talent.

Practice Perfect "To practice is to declare, I can be better. There are many full-stop moments in Practice Perfect-ideas so interesting that you can't help but pause for a second and consider them." FROM THE FOREWORD BY DAN HEATH, coauthor of Made to Stick and Switch We love competition, the big win, the ticking seconds of the clock as the game comes down to the wire. We watch games and cheer, but if we really wanted to see greatness we'd spend our time watching, obsessing on, and maybe even cheering the practice sessions instead. Practice Perfect puts the art of practice front and center. It shows that anyone, in any field, can come to appreciate that practice, not games, makes champions. In Practice Perfect, the authors engage the dream of better. Filled with illustrative examples from top-level athletes, established teachers, seasoned lawyers, and even long-time surgeons, the authors show how deliberately engineered and designed practice can revolutionize our most important activities. The "howto" rules outlined in Practice Perfect can make us better in virtually every performance of life. The ideas are often counterintuitive, such as: don't concentrate on your weakness, practice what you are good at. To get you started on your path to "better" the authors have included a number of specific activities that will jumpstart your way to practicing perfect.