1. a decision to learn
2. find a teacher / pro
3. commit yourself to weeks / months 

its starts with baby steps
practice in controlled situation
feedback
*willingness to look like a fool 
and start from scratch over and over.
--w without this there can be no learning / slow

to lose some of what you have gained repetitively.

Reactions to plateaus, the moment of choice
1 drop the goal and try something easier
2 try twice as hard
3 just enjoy what you have already and stop growing
4 take long hard road of self improvement

even our unconscious choices are a choice adding or subtracting to our lives... to what we will become.

Intelligences
linguistic musical logical/mathematic spatial body/kinesthetic interpersonal interpersonal

3 losers:
dabbler: wants new, honeymoon, escape from hard growth
obsessive: wants results fast, shortcuts, ego gratification, rollercoaster
hacker: wants static plateau, safety, lazy

Inner Values run it all.  What do you value?
What do you put $ / time into?


Ch3 Values

commercials offer the end result not the hard work to get there, the high, the climax, instantly and without effort... the good life.

instant gratification always fulfilled leads to self destruction in the end.  symptoms relieved, cause unexplored.

doctor 12 min visit doesn't give time to diagnose problem... just drug away symptoms.  we want the quick fix.  our quick success cost someone else long hardship & work.

ch 4
real growth requires that we love the plateau, the pain,  and avoid the quick fix.  It is only by enduring on the plateau that we attain true enduring strength.

5 keys:
1 instruction 2 practice 3 surrender 4 intentionality 5 edge

dealing with change and homostasis
1 be aware that it is coming
2 be willing to resist your resistance to change / grow
3 develop a support system
4 follow a regular practice
5 dedicate yourself to life long learning

getting energy for mastery
1. cover the basics - physical
2. acknowledge the negative, accentuate the positive
3. try telling the truth - communicate
4. draw energy from your dark side if necessary
5. start moving - it begets energy
6. envision the goal

pitfalls along the path
-conflicting lifestyle
-obsessive goal orientation
-poor instruction 
-lack of / too much competitiveness
-laziness
-injury
-the easy fix - drugs
-prizes and medals
-vanity
-too serious / light
-inconsistence
-perfectionism