Darya Sinusoid, Author at Shortform Books

Is 10,000 Hours of Practice Enough to Master a Skill?

Can practice override talent? Is it true that to master a skill, you need to put in 10,000 hours of practice? Although we tend to think of practice as an equalizer, having the time to practice enough to master a skill is a luxury afforded only to the privileged. In fact, there are studies that show that the most masterful individuals in their fields have practiced their craft for at least 10,000 hours, which averages nearly 20 hours every week for 10 years. Here’s why practice is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to skill mastery.

The Cornerstone of Good Leadership Is Sacrifice

Have you ever had to sacrifice something (or someone) for the sake of the greater, common goal? Why is sacrifice important in leadership? A leader must inevitably make decisions that put individual team members in harm’s way for the sake of the mission. According to Willink and Babin, the authors of The Dichotomy of Leadership, sacrifice is integral to the idea of what it means to be a leader. It’s why many people see leadership as a burden—many leaders struggle with a guilty conscience over the decisions they have to make. We’ll describe two specific instances of sacrifice in leadership:

Omission Bias: Why Your Brain Favors Inaction

What is omission bias? Why does it occur? Omission bias is the tendency to choose omission (inaction) over commission (action). Omission bias occurs because you feel guilty when your action leads to negative consequences, and less guilty when inaction leads to negative consequences. Keep reading to learn about the psychology behind omission bias and why your brain tends to favor inaction over action.

Inattentional Blindness: What It Is & How to Overcome It

What is inattentional blindness? Why does this effect occur? Inattentional blindness is a tendency to zone in on certain aspects of a situation and disregard the rest. Inattentional blindness is the result of the brain’s limited cognitive capacity: it simply doesn’t have the resources to process everything. Keep reading to learn about the phenomenon of intentional blindness, why it occurs, and how to combat it.

Are We Living in the Age of False Knowledge?

Are we living in the age of false knowledge? How did the advent of the internet contribute to the spread of false knowledge? In the internet age, false knowledge is spreading like wildfire. People consider themselves experts because they have easy access to information, but they never gain a deeper understanding of it. Here’s how the advent of the internet has given rise to the age of false knowledge.

Information Overload: What It Is & Why It’s Problematic

What is information overload? What’s the problem with having too much information? The dangers of information overload have grown increasingly severe in the modern world because there’s so much information available. According to Rold Dobelli, the author of The Art of Thinking Clearly, excess information causes problems in two ways: burying basic facts and wasting time. Keep reading to learn about the dangers of information overload.

The Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) School Model

What is the KIPP school model? How does the KIPP school model differ from the traditional American model of education? The Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) Academy began in the South Bronx as an experimental, public middle school intended to create opportunities for success for low-income, underserved communities. By extending students’ time in school (both over the course of the day and over the course of the year), KIPP’s approach compensates for some of the disadvantages low-income students face. Let’s take a closer look at how KIPP helped students succeed by challenging the cultural norms of the American school system.

The Dichotomy of Leadership: Book Overview

What is Jocko Willink and Leif Babin’s book The Dichotomy of Leadership about? What is the key message to take away from the book? The Dichotomy of Leadership is Willink and Babin’s follow-up to 2015’s Extreme Ownership, which argues that a leader should take responsibility for all their team’s mistakes and do everything they can to improve the team’s chance of success. The principle of Extreme Ownership serves as the foundation of Willink and Babin’s argument throughout The Dichotomy of Leadership. Let’s explore five dichotomies that the authors believe every leader should strive to balance at all times.

Alternative Blindness and Decision-Making

The 3 Core Principles of Objective Decision Making

What is alternative blindness? How does alternative blindness affect decision-making? Alternative blindness is a decision-making bias where you hone in on two options, neglecting alternatives. This bias can manipulate you to follow other people’s plans. It makes Option A seem like your only choice when a different option could actually suit you better. Keep reading to learn about alternative blindness bias, why it happens, and how to overcome it.

Common Logical Fallacies, Errors, and Biases

What are some of the most common logical fallacies? Why do these fallacies occur? There are two main kinds of thinking: fast and instinctive, and slow and logical. Both play important roles, but both cause logical fallacies when used in the wrong situation. Here are some of the most common logical fallacies that come from using the wrong kind of thinking.