What is the difference between Practice and Real-life Application?

I’ve been taking an exciting course called Nervous System Mastery by Johnny Miller. In one of the sessions, he raised a very interesting question:

What is the difference between Practice and Real Life Application?

In the learning space we often use these interchangeably - but practice and application are different. Let us understand how -

Practice

Practice is repeatedly doing something in order to gain mastery.

Practice:

• Happens in a safe environment like a classroom/ training

• Is open to failure or as Johnny put it ‘consequence free’

• Is useful only if you get feedback - a critical piece for mastery

• Allows you to build towards complexity

• Gives you the time and space you need to learn

Practice helps you build proficiency and confidence in your ability to do something.

Real-life Application

Real life application is where we use the skills and knowledge that we have and apply it in the real world.

Real-life Application

• Happens outside a ‘learning environment’

• Has more severe consequences - margin of error is low

• Is where you are expected to be the expert

• Can get quite complex and layered

• Needs quick decision making

Real life application test your skills and ability in a high pressure environment.

Do you think you can do real-life application without practicing?

Yes.

Will it be useful?

Probably not.

Our traditional schools focus only on practice and not on real-life application. Our trainings are largely focussed on application and don’t have much practice built in.

Learning by doing is not just about practice or real-life application - it is about both.