How the Right Constraints Boost Performance
It is common to complain about the constraints in our lives: too little time or not enough money.
And it’s true that some of these constraints do hold us back.
But some constraints in our lives force us to develop talents that wouldn’t focus on and pressure us to be more creative.
There are three primary steps to follow when using constraints to improve your skills:
Decide a Specific Skill To Develop Do not pick a broad skill, like just wanting to be good at something. Pick a specific, tangible skill. For example, don’t try to develop the skill of being “good at marketing.” Instead, focus on learning how to write compelling headlines
Constrain Yourself so You Have to Use This Skill The three main constraints are time, resources, and environment. By limiting your time or setting a schedule, you have to work on that skill more consistently. By giving yourself fewer resources, you have to be more creative. Finally, environmental constraints impact your behavior without you realizing it
Keep Practicing While constraints can help skill development, you still need to practice. It is impossible to build skills without repetition