Make Practice Worthwhile

• August 27th, 2007
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This article sheds new light on the concept of practicing any skill. Practicing for the sake of going through the motions is just that. Going through motions. In order to actually sharpen one’s skills, one must practice with gusto! Determining the weaknesses and working to improve them is what makes practice worthwhile until, finally, striving for perfection is the regular goal. Read on:

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Column By Jim Stovall

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Normal Chaos

You have probably heard it said by someone wanting you to

repeat a monotonous activity that “practice makes perfect.”

As many times as you and I may have heard this, it is quite

simply not true. Practice does not make perfect. Practice

makes consistent.

If you practice something at a high level of performance, it

will reinforce that same level of performance. On the other

hand, if you practice an activity over and over in a

substandard manner, you will do little more than reinforce

this substandard level of performance.

You have probably dealt with people or organizations that

consistently perform at an unprofessional, impolite, and

substandard level. Like me, you probably wonder: How did

things ever get so bad in this organization? The answer is

simply that mediocrity has been going on for so long, and

reinforced so deeply, that it now seems normal.

Human beings always seek their own level of comfort. You

have probably heard about prisoners who are finally released

after spending many years behind bars. Then, more often than

you would think, these individuals will go out and do

something stupid, get caught, and get sent right back to

prison.

After years of counseling within the prison system,

psychologists have determined that some inmates become so

accustomed to living within prison walls, that it becomes

their comfort zone and, on a subconscious level, they prefer

it to life in society with you and me.

So much of what we do in our personal and professional lives

is done out of habit. If you will consider your morning

routine as you get ready to go to work, you will realize

that dozens of things happen in a mindless habitual fashion.

This is a powerful tool if you use it wisely, because we can

control our habits if we will simply become proactive and

choose our own course of action.

Anything we do for 21 days will begin to become a habit.

This means that, on the 22nd day, something will seem

strange or out of place if you do not follow the routine you

have established.

Excellence can become a habit. Chaos can become a habit. And

mediocrity can become a habit. The process is inert. It does

not care at what level you perform. Our minds simply want to

reproduce that with which we are familiar.

As you go through your day today, remember: You are

currently a product of yesterday’s habits; but take heart,

because tomorrow will be a product of the habits you form

now.

Today’s the day!

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Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television

Network, as well as a published author of many books

including The Ultimate Gift. He is also a columnist and

motivational speaker. He may be reached at 5840 South

Memorial Drive, Suite 312, Tulsa, OK 74145-9082, or by

e-mail at JimStovall@aol.com or visit http://jimstovall.com

Tags: Goals, Inspiration, Motivation, Positive Thinking, Self-Discipline, Success, Vision