We’ve all heard it said that ‘Practice makes perfect’.
Others say that only ‘Perfect practice makes perfect.’
It is true that practice can certainly help you reach some level of ‘perfection’ or ‘mastery’ in a particular area of learning. Does this ‘maestro’ status last a lifetime?
In short, no.
If my 10,000 hours* was completed some thirty years’ ago, and I haven’t touched that skill or capability since… well I’m sorry, I just may not be as skilled as I remember.
We are only truly capable and proficient in the skills we continue to practice.
So, just because you were really good at something in the past, doesn’t mean you still are.
We are only truly capable and proficient in the skills we continue to practice.
The concept of currency
In the clinical world, we talk about ‘currency’. Sure, your clinician has a wall full of qualifications and is registered as a Fellow with some noble society or association, but if they are no longer actually practicing the treatment you need, there’s a strong chance they are also no longer competent OR current and are therefore unsuitable for the task at hand.
This ‘currency’ concept is a powerful way to reconcile what we can or cannot do. Our minds are not very good at discerning between what we remember our bodies being able to do in the past, versus what they are capable of now.
Our minds are not very good at discerning between what we remember our bodies being able to do in the past, versus what they are capable of now.
Learning the hard way
I can think of several examples. My ‘Pa’ lived to age 104, yet was rather annoyed when he was no longer permitted to drive, due to deterioration in eye health (amongst other things); “I’ve been driving for eighty years… they can’t tell me I can’t drive!”
Or my own father, who just recently told me of a favor he undertook for a friend — to make an elaborate sign for their property. [Shared with permission.]
You see, before retiring he was a signwriter and artist, known for his large format murals and intricate work. He told me that after taking on this particular favor, absolutely everything went wrong. Mistakes were made and the whole thing was a costly disaster.
He also admitted it has been nearly a decade since he has done anything similar.
In this case, his mind knew what he has been capable of in the past, however there hasn’t been the subsequent understanding or monitoring of this capability over time, to recognize that the previous level of excellence might not be possible anymore.
I asked him why he took this project on, suggesting it may have been better for him and everyone to simply say, “I’d have loved to do this for you ten years ago when I was doing these sorts of things all the time, however I’m sorry my skills are no longer current. I doubt I can do this efficiently or to the standard of quality I have been known for.”
‘I’m sorry my skills are no longer current.
I doubt I can do this efficiently or to the standard of quality I have been known for.’
Have pride in past accomplishments
That is not to say we shouldn’t be proud of all we have accomplished in our lives. Recognizing when our past skills have slipped should not be humiliating, but a matter of pragmatic observation and acknowledgement.
Recognising when our past skills have slipped should not be humiliating, but a matter of pragmatic observation and acknowledgement.
Of course, I have observed so many examples in my own life.
One time I experienced the trenches of crisis leadership, concurrently learning academic and real-world application of principles to help with a complex team environment. Great leadership skills. I know conceptually about that style of leadership, yet I haven’t had to practice it for a long time and couldn’t confidently say I would immediately fall back into best practice if I were faced with similar challenges again.
As a teenager, I loved rockclimbing (before it was a trend), bushwalking, skiing. I played drums six nights a week in a band. Along with many other passions and pursuits that I was reasonably good at, at that time.
I am proud of all of these adventures.
Yet I know that these skills that were previously part of my identity, are simply no longer proficiencies in my day-to-day life. Even if my mind knows how to do these things in principle, my body simply cannot keep pace.
Consequently, I wouldn’t throw myself out onto the ski slopes, at this age, trying to perform aerial manoeuvres like I did the 1990s — well, unless I particularly wanted to see the inside of an air ambulance.
Currency builds wealth
In closing, consider how interesting it is that the word ‘currency’ means ‘in use’, and also describes ‘money in use’.
…the word ‘currency’ means ‘in use’, and also describes ‘money in use’.
Put simply, ‘currency’ = ‘money’. Likewise, we usually do make a living or find recreational joy from our most current capabilities.
What capabilities are you keeping current? How much practice do you do?
What potentially ‘proud’ aspects of your past identity and reputation, should you now let go off due to a lack of currency? Or is it time to pick that up again and regain your currency?
For those building your career, think carefully about the skills or capabilities you are practicing the most. Can they be useful and kept current throughout your life, at ALL stages of your career? If so, they may just build great wealth for you, figuratively and literally; in wisdom, skill, proficiency, satisfaction, well-being, and of course achieving your financial goals.
* Gladwell, Malcolm. Outliers. Back Bay Books, 2009.
