The 3-Part Formula That Makes Any Skill Stick
Whenever I’ve learned a new skill—whether it was writing, coding, or songwriting—there’s a formula that always worked better than brute force. It’s simple: Focused Practice → Feedback → Iteration.
Here’s how it works:
Focused Practice
Most people scatter their effort. They jump from random tutorials to scattered practice sessions. Instead, zoom in on one core skill at a time. If you’re learning to write, focus on crafting better openings. If you’re learning coding, focus on building a small feature, not an entire app.Feedback
Without feedback, you’re just reinforcing mistakes. Share your work with a peer, mentor, or even use AI tools to spot patterns. Feedback closes the gap between what you think you’re doing and what’s actually happening.Iteration
Here’s the key: don’t just take feedback once and move on. Cycle back. Try again. Improve one aspect at a time. Tiny iterations compound into fluency faster than sporadic “all-in” bursts.
Want to test this out? Pick one small skill this week. Dedicate 20 minutes to practice, ask someone for feedback, and then repeat the next day. Do this for five days straight—you’ll notice a shift.
Learning isn’t about talent. It’s about systems.
My daughter and I started learning dance routines together for fun and to likely start a YouTube channel one day. Like I said before we’re doing salsa now! Usually we try to learn the whole choreography at once and get frustrated. I love the idea of focusing on one move, recording ourselves, then making any adjustments the next day. It’s going to make the whole process more fun and less stressful for both of us. These tips fit perfectly with the 20 minutes a day so thank you Idris Elijah!!
I’ve been teaching myself to become a better songwriter and your formula clicked with me. Instead of trying to write full songs start-to-finish, I’m going to practice just writing hooks for a week, share them with a friend for feedback, then refine. Practice without feedback is like playing into an empty room. It’s the audience, even if it’d just one person, that sharpens the song. I’m definitely going to work on this formula Idris Elijah!