Practice deliberately, not just repeatedly

Target weaknesses with full focus and feedback, not comfortable repetition.

Why it works

Duckworth ties grit to deliberate practice: focused effort on specific weaknesses, with clear goals, immediate feedback, and repetition until mastery, then a new stretch. Ordinary repetition plateaus because it stays in the comfort zone; deliberate practice keeps targeting the edge of ability, which is where measurable improvement actually comes from.

How to do it

1. Identify a specific weakness rather than practicing the whole skill broadly.
2. Set a narrow goal for the session and get immediate feedback on it.
3. Repeat the difficult sub-skill with full concentration, then raise the bar.

Evidence

Deliberate practice is supported by research on expert performance as important for skill development, though meta-analyses find it explains a meaningful but partial share of performance differences — not all of them. (observational)

The claim that deliberate practice is the dominant factor in expertise has been substantially walked back; it matters, but talent, starting age, and other factors also contribute.

Common mistake

Logging hours of comfortable, on-autopilot repetition and calling it practice — volume without targeting weaknesses produces plateaus, not mastery.