Expert in a Year
I was recently scrolling through YouTube and stumbled upon a video with a simple title: "Guy Plays Table Tennis Every Day for a Year". I enjoy ping pong and the title piqued my curiosity to see what kind of progress might be possible.
I found this video inspiring. To see this guy go from a player at my level (or slightly above), which is to say not very good at ping pong, to being a table tennis wizard. At least in my eyes. In fact, I was amazed at the progress he made just in the initial couple months before it became obvious he was refining and inching forward every day.
What am I doing every day that could mean I'll have significant progress to show for it a year from now? Better yet, why am I not measuring those type of things? Or at least taking note of benchmarks?
And probably more inspiring was thinking, what can I do for an hour every day for the next year? What type of things do I have the time and ability to add to my current schedule? What things would I like to pursue? If I could become an expert in anything, what would it be? If it only takes a year to become an expert and then I can put those things in maintenance mode, could I spend a lifetime becoming an expert at an enormous array of things?
It was a good kick in the pants to remind myself (as I often forget), that big things don't happen all at once. Big things are the direct result of putting one foot in front of the other on a daily basis. Small things compound over time.
If you could become an expert in a year by practicing something for one hour (or more) every day, what would it be? Why?