Questions to ask a mentor

From the moment we are born, we are always learning new skills. We see it in formal capacities in school or on the job, and informally, like learning from you buddy how to grill a steak.

However, learning is a skill that we can improve upon. The growing number of self-taug...

Be very selective in the skill you're trying to masker to avoid sabotaging your success:

• Make sure it's applicable: The perfect skill either solves a problem you have or scratches an itch you have.
• Be very specific: Specific goals are easier...

To make it count, practice deliberately. Focus on specific elements and work on them until they improve.

Don't go all out, dedicating every waking moment to your new passion. Pace yourself. You will not only avoid burnout by spreading out your training, bu...

Feedback is vitally important to evaluate how well you're doing and to identify areas for improvement. Faster feedback is always better.

• Share work publicly: Even if it feels scary, sharing your work is essential for improvement.
• Be very specific:

You could follow all the advice, but if you give up after two days, you won't make progress.

• Make a plan: When exactly are you going to practice?
• Tell others about it…maybe: State your goal as a commitment rather than moving towards the fini...

In school, your teachers worked out a lesson plan and made sure you were aiming in the right direction. When you're teaching yourself, you have to do it yourself.

• Deconstruct and select: Every skill can be broken down into pieces. Find out what are the minimal learna...