Why You Look Like You Suck When You Are Actually Learning
Why Do You Suck at Juggling?
I used to juggle comfortably in a gym, looking skilled and effortless. When I pushed myself to learn the five ball cascade outside, I dropped balls constantly. A friend asked why I suddenly sucked at juggling. The truth is that real growth happens when you leave your comfort zone. Effortful practice looks messy, but that is exactly where progress is made.
The hard, skill-building, effortful juggling looked like it sucked.
- laszlojamf
I've been working as a software developer for about ten years, and I've started to get a little annoyed when my manager asks me what I'm gonna work on improving this year. Like what can I say? That I'll try get better at coding? That I'll get better at project management? At some point the marginal utility is just not there anymore. Even if I did get twice as good (whatever that means) at systems design, it's not like there is _that_ much systems design to go around at work that it would actually be noticeable.
What do senior developers say they'll work on improving in their performance reviews?
- scandox
Lesson is actually: if you want to blow people's minds then practice secretly. An appearance of effortlessness. Sprezzatura. Whatever it is, it seems to be the only thing that impresses the average person.
- helloplanets
People don't realize the exponential diffictlty curve with juggling. The highest amount of balls ever juggled is 11.
- mikestew
Reminds me of when I play my mandolin when I’m camping. I’m sure fellow campers think I suck, despite having played for ten years. But I’m not going to play stuff I can play in my sleep, I’m playing stuff that still needs work. So, in consideration of others, once in a while I’ll rip off a fast version of Old Dangerfield or some other song I know really well just in case someone is in earshot.
- MarceColl
What's more shocking to me is asking a person that is not even an acquaintance why they suck at juggling now.