Inspiring Deliberate Practice: What We Can Learn From Danny MacAskill

I’ve been watching this video by Dave Sowerby for a year since it went viral on YouTube 19th April 2009 (currently with a staggering 17 million views).  Each time I watch, I’m moved with many thoughts.  What the Scottish twenty-three year old Danny MacAskill from the Isle of Skye has been deliberately practicing for more than 12 years speaks volumes to that of Geoff Colvin’s book Talent Is Overrated.  I blogged on this topic October of last year. 

Of course this video is polished, it took him years to master and a good metaphor for what organizations go through during strategic planning, implementing and expecting results.  Some organizations assemble a strong strategic plan but fall short of implementing, recall your great plans collecting dust on a shelf?  Others master the planning, yet unable to implement because the team is not moving in the same direction.  Yet if the plan is in place, the team is moving forward but critical adjustments are not realized (nor made), intended result are missed.  Not until a solid plan is built, a focused team assembled, repeated attempts made, failures realized and adjustments made can results be celebrated.  Watch the first part of this 5:38min video to understand.

What can you learn from this video?  Whatever you aspire to become, deliberate practice will pay off and look as easy as Danny does in his profession.  By the way, Danny gave up his job as a mechanic so he could ride full-time.  Reminds me of a few of our young professional high school students pursing their passion while attending our distance learning school. 

Well done Danny, would sure would like to meet you someday, I have a feeling I could learn something from your approach.