January 19th, 2023

Building intuition is similar to learning to read. It involves starting with the basics, such as recognizing individual letters and forming them into syllables and words. As you progress, you can aim to be able to read entire clauses fluently. Expert readers have developed the ability to see familiar elements in a new light and can quickly recognize and pronounce unfamiliar words, even if they are jumbled or upside down. These skills are acquired through hard work and practice. The "10,000 Hour Rule" suggests that it takes approximately 10,000 hours of dedicated practice to become an expert in a particular field. This time and energy investment is necessary in order to develop a high level of proficiency and master the nuances and subtleties of a given domain.
Miyamoto Musashi, a renowned samurai warrior and master of the sword, is known for his wisdom and insights on the subject of mastery. He believed that hard work and dedication were essential to achieving a high level of proficiency in any field. In his writings, he stated: "One must exert oneself unceasingly and study very hard," and "Practicing a thousand days is said to be discipline and practicing ten thousand days is said to be refining." These statements highlight the importance of consistent, sustained effort in the pursuit of mastery. Musashi's words serve as a reminder that true excellence requires a commitment to ongoing learning and improvement.

​
It is important to not only learn and practice the skills necessary to master a task, but also to have a clear understanding of when and how to apply those skills in different situations. Musashi also stated “To accomplish a task quickly and to perform it well is not to be haphazard about anything; to know where and when to use who and what; to know whether or not there is incentive; to give encouragement and to know limitations; these are what a master carpenter keeps in mind.” It's important to have a clear plan and to know how to apply your skills effectively in different situations. This requires understanding the context in which you are working and being able to adapt to changing circumstances. As Musashi points out, a master carpenter is not haphazard in their work, but rather has a clear understanding of the task at hand and how to use their skills to achieve their goals efficiently and effectively.

---