Connect with us

Success Advice

4 Ways To Master Any New Skill This Year

Published

on

Image Credit: Unsplash

New York Times Best Selling author “Tim Ferriss”, shares his 4 Ways to master any new skill this year.

Tim takes a 20/80 approach when learning new skills and techniques and has a knack for identifying the 20% effort that generates 80% of the results.

In Tim Ferriss latest book, The Four Hour Chef, Tim explains how he turned himself from a cooking rookie into world-class chef. He also outlines in great detail what I think is a breakthrough model for learning in a fast-paced world.

I met with Tim recently to learn more about his methodology, which he calls D.S.S.S (or “diss”) for short. It has four steps: Deconstruction, Selection, Sequencing and Stakes.

 

4 Ways To Master A New Skill In 2013 By Tim Ferriss

 

Deconstruction

The first step, Tim suggests, is to start with the outcome in mind. You need to know very specifically what you hope to achieve and how to measure it. Then, you can work backward and identify the specific ingredients that are required to succeed.

For example, in his quest to become a three-time New York Times best-selling author, Ferriss deconstructed the grassroots support that made Fifty Shades of Gray a smash. He also keeps a massive swipe file in Evernote of different book marketing campaigns that caught his eye.

In Chef Ferriss recommends seeking out and meeting pros who are at the height of their game. This is something I try to do regularly.

The goal here is simple – it’s to identify commonalities.

 

Selection

The next part of the process, Ferriss says, is to hone this down to the difference makers – the critical 20%.

Some of these techniques will be timeless principles that have worked for years. For example, when it comes to books, good writing remains good writing. Hard work remains hard work.

However, this also means attacking a subject with a beginner’s mind and asking “seemingly ridiculous questions” Ferriss told me. This Zen-like approach led to a partnership with BitTorrent that drove one million free downloads for Chef without any negative impact on sales – plus a ton of media coverage.

 

Sequencing

Success, of course, is not just what you do but how you do it. That’s where sequencing comes in.

Ferriss uses a series of two week tests to determine how to order the various 20% skills in the right order. This gives him several different data sets that he can compare. The key is to pick hard numbers (like sales data).

 

Stakes

Finally, there’s stakes. This is what keeps you motivated. In a career context, Ferriss says, the stakes are built in. If you don’t stay ahead, your career can flatline.

However, if you need motivation, the author suggests using sites like StickK – where you make your commitments public and incur financial consequences if you fail to meet them.

For more on Tim Ferriss’ D.S.S.S. approach to learning and, oh by the way, several hundred pages on how to master cooking, you can pick up ” The 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life “.

 

 

Article By Steve Rubel | LinkedIn.com

I am the the Founder of Addicted2Success.com and I am so grateful you're here to be part of this awesome community. I love connecting with people who have a passion for Entrepreneurship, Self Development & Achieving Success. I started this website with the intention of educating and inspiring likeminded people to always strive for success no matter what their circumstances. I'm proud to say through my podcast and through this website we have impacted over 200 million lives in the last 10 years.

Advertisement
3 Comments

3 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Explode Your Social Media

Want More Views? Master These 6 YouTube Growth Tactics

Getting a strong start or feeling stagnant are two completely different problems, but they both need momentum, viewer engagement, and growth to fix them.

Published

on

YouTube growth strategies
Image Credit: Midjourney

Strategic planning combined with unwavering dedication allows you to rise above the chaos of YouTube—luck won’t get you anywhere.  (more…)

Continue Reading

Change Your Mindset

The Leadership Skill Nobody Talks About (But Changes Everything)

Curiosity often takes a back seat to certainty and gets labeled as a soft skill, which makes it sound obvious and easy

Published

on

leadership through curiosity
Image Credit: Midjourney

Most of us, when faced with challenges, instinctively seek certainty and answers. In turn, our ego steps in and prompts us to defend our views, double down, or perhaps disengage.  (more…)

Continue Reading

Success Advice

Breaking the Bias: How Females Can Thrive In The Workplace in 2025

The good news is that some steps can also be taken by female business leaders who are looking to voice and fight these issues, take charge of their careers, and grow their business or influence in the industry.

Published

on

Overcoming gender bias in the workplace
Image Credit: Midjourney

Over the past 100-odd years, women have played a critical role in the ever-changing labor force.  (more…)

Continue Reading

Success Advice

Success Isn’t Sexy: 5 Daily Habits That Actually Work

You’ll need to master the unsexy routines that build momentum in the background

Published

on

unsexy habits that lead to success
Image Credit: Midjourney

There’s a gritty, unfiltered side of success that rarely makes it to our timelines or TED Talks. It’s not drenched in neon lights, wrapped in viral quotes, or toasted with champagne selfies. It’s quiet. It’s routine. And honestly? It’s often boring. (more…)

Continue Reading

Trending