How to Master ANY Skill (From Craig Clemens)

In 2018, I took German 101.

Now, I speak like a native speaker, but my classmates don’t.

What made the difference?

I can promise you it wasn’t talent.

In high school, I nearly failed Italian class.

The real difference started with motivation.

My classmates were there for general education credits. (weak extrinsic motivation)

But I was there to master German. (strong intrinsic motivation)

Your motivation will determine your success.

Next, my system (not my goal) guaranteed success.

@craigclemens , founder of Golden Hippo, says there are 4 Steps to Master any Skill,

1 Immersion
2 Application
3 Mentorship
4 Time

Here’s the breakdown:

1. Immersion

A teacher can’t give you immersion.

I got immersion by listening to the Easy German podcast, watching Youtube videos, and writing my journal in German. When it comes to immersion, if you don’t enjoy it, you won’t do it.

2. Application

“Doing is faster than watching” — Naval

There were few German speakers in New York, so I hired an online tutor to speak with me. Also, I created a fun writing game that required 30 minutes of active writing per day.

3. Mentorship

People ahead of you know something you don’t.

The great part about paying someone to speak with you is they are expected to correct you. Also, thanks to YouTube, you can find advice from legends, like Steve Kaufmann who shares his wisdom after 15+ languages.

4. Time

In summer of 2019, I sat down in a Munich Biergarten.

What followed was my first conversation in German that didn’t end in English. But that was over one year after I started. So give yourself the gift of time.

“Impatient with Action, Patient with Results” — Naval

What skill do you want to Master?

Read this post and more on my Typeshare Social Blog