Often we hear people constantly complaining over the fact that they are not having result they have assumed for themselves even after putting more efforts than it requires.
There are plenty of examples for this mental stigma we hear in our life till date. We are also get use to its aftermath. As we are social animal, we give them superficial sympathy and empathetic ears to listen their narratives. Its most probable thing to do it in first place if we see this issue from the stand point of morality and humanity. It is as it should be, there is no objection over it. But the real question is, Does it going to solve their problem?

This question might bring total silence in the conversation. Because we don’t feel comfortable to face fundamental questions in our day to day life.

Then, what can be the right way to approach this problem?

It requires perspective to look at the problem with the approach where we can distinguish “Rate of improvement in relationship to the Rate of change”.

Rate of improvement on personal level and Rate of change in external environment (Field of work) we are in.

What does that term means?

Let’s understand it with one analogy from the game of cricket.

In cricket there are 5 different length of bowling a ball to any batsman. All of them have their own advantages and disadvantages. Which length a batsman can play, depends on different types of pitch, different bowler, his personal strengths etc. But apart from all variation there is one generalisation I have observed. During any cricket test match, 50-55% of the delivery bowled are on good length & back of length area.

Personally, If I have to improve my cricket as a batsman I would give my initial focus on playing good length & back of length delivery well. Because ‘the rate of improvement vs rate of result’ in that case would be 50-55% which can motivate me further to learn remaining parts of batting skills.

If I fully focus on bouncer or Yorker in first phase of my batting practice, the rate of result would be very low and it would ultimately demoralise me with the results. There would be higher probability for me to join the group of complainers for not attaining acceptable rate of results for my remarkable efforts on improvement. I won’t attain it because it is a fact that, on an average there is only one bouncer and one Yorker ball any average bowler can bowl in one over (Though some exceptions are there like Jashprit Bumrah). Which is just 17-33% of all delivery during a match.

This little analogy has taught me a lesson. Before involve ourselves into any work we must need to make some conscious choices rather unconscious but mighty efforts. Otherwise we would end up at unknown spots as renowned psychoanalyst Carl Jung said,

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, It will direct your life and you will call it fate”.

Currently I have applied this insights to learn Guitar. Playing guitar is not easy things as it looks as an outsider. But at the same time it’s not hard to learn it. I have defined the songs I want to play on guitar. I have observed that 60-70% of songs can be played with very handful of chords.

From that songs, I have generalise chord and strumming patterns which are mostly used.

Then I have defined the sequence of Easiest to Hardest chords.

Starting with the easiest chords, The task of learning guitar seems doable. Because somewhere back in my mind there is an awareness that I will be able to deal with 60-70% of songs if I learn this chords. If I get to that point, it will build momentum and confidence. That momentum and confidence will become the driving force to go further deep into that craft.

Because my rate of improvement is very much aligned with rate of change in external world (result).