We call it “paralysis by analysis”, and I oughta know! Even worse if you are or are married to an engineer… BUT sometimes great F*&kups are also saved by that analysis.

With internet it is certainly easy to ‘research’ stuff than do the actual stuff.

Sometimes it keeps me awake at night, the skills we are losing via spending too much time on the internet rather than in the shed, the garden, the business, with kids or with 3 dimensional people “in person”! Remember what that’s like?!’.

As you say, great post, thanks “Expert Enough”, perhaps we will meet in person one day!

You make such such a good point about our time spent mindlessly watching TV or surfing the Internet. I recently read the average person watches 4 hours a day. When they are 65, they will have spent 9 years in front of the TV. It doesn’t seem like the best use of time. Good inspiration to get out and improve ourselves.

I’m taking tennis lessons right now. I doubt I will be an expert, but I see improvement every week. It is important to feel the confidence of knowing how to do a few things.

Simple .. *those* guys were bored out of their heads as kids.. so they immersed themselves in music. Anyone born after 1980 spent most of their childhood in front of a screen.

I find it depressing.. can anyone name a modern “music star” who is actually really *good* at their instrument or voice in the same way that stars of yesteryear were? There are a few.. but very few.

When there is something I want to learn I get a book, video, or find an instructor.

My grandmother used to say “practice makes perfect”. I don’t know that there is anything I do “perfect”, but I’ve made it to fourth degree black belt and did not stop there, but learned new styles from other martial artists. I play four musical instruments, can airbrush, weld, build a house, design electronics, or program a computer. Like yourself, I wouldn’t say I am an expert in any of these, but enjoy them and am “good enough”.

On the other hand, I probably have not had the TV on over four hours in the last 12 months and couldn’t begin to tell you who is on “You can be a Star”.

Let us hope this gets some people moving. Kudos my friend!!!!

To summarize, fall in love with the art, not what it superficially does for the ego. The rewards of embracing the actual art versus sensationalism is great, and the lessons of patience and personal refinement make us better as people.

this year is going to be the best year ever because i took the time to be expert enough in these new skills.

In regard to your question “has the art of becoming good at things been lost on today’s instant gratification society?”, I don’t think so. I think we’ve always been a society of instant gratification, but now we are overwhelmed with opportunity.

I love to consume media, but I remember when I had a few channels (pre-cable era) and actually had to go to the movies. As a kid, I watched Star Wars once or twice, my kids have seen it dozens of times because we own it on dvd, on demand, etc.

In a society where we are afflicted with ADD/ADHD, we are overwhelmed with information, distraction, entertainment AND yes, even opportunity.

Yes its much easier to become an expert, but for many its just information overload.

And as an entrepreneur, I have the opportunity to have even more freedom in my life without someone cracking the whip (or holding me accountable). I’m the boss right?

The change for me is setting, measuring and consistently reviewing my goals to make sure I am continuing to hone my expertise. I try to think about OUTCOMES and what I’m doing today to achieve them. Then ask questions like is this episode of Californication the best use of my time? Is there value in writing this blog post? or should I be focused on my area of expertise?

There is definitely a balance and entertainment is not bad, but I’ve found that when I’ve stated my goals, review them not just on New Years Day, but rather monthly, weekly or even daily, that I much more likely to achieve or become the expert I have set out to become.

I think it really boils to down to what kind of filters are we using to keep things in balance. For me its productivity tools to make sure I’m on track and not over doing it on Media, or one aspect of my business, and to make sure I’m focusing on the 20% thats actually important to my business right now.

Sorry for the long post, its just a subject I like talking about