Getting better at things isn't necessarily about improving your effort.
It's about understanding what you're doing incorrectly.
Loid Ainsworth learned this within a five-minute discussion with Julian Cross.
"This is ineffective," Julian stated in a matter-of-fact tone as he looked at Loid's notebook.
His tone was not rough or demeaning; rather it was just straight forward.
Loid's first reaction was not an immediate response: "…What is?"
As previously stated, he believed that everything in his notebook should have been treated equally.
"No," Julian once again responded.
That simple one-word reply packed a more significant punch than Loid had anticipated.
Julian leaned back in his chair.
"Studying is not about trying hard; studying is about what you study."
Loid said nothing.
He was listening.
He was thinking.
"You aren't weak," Julian went on, "you just lack focus."
Loid didn't seem happy at that comment.
"…Then what do I do?"
Julian moved to a fresh page in his notebook.
"The first thing you must do is to identify your areas of weakness."
He then wrote that down.
"The second step is to place importance on all of your weaknesses."
He then drew another line on the page.
"Finally revise the things that you studied incorrectly intelligently; do not repeat the incorrect
things."
Loid watched Julian carefully.
The process was not at all complicated.
It is simply a matter of having a system for how to study.
"Why don't you try to figure out this problem," said Julian as he gently placed a mathproblem in front of him.
Loid picked up his pencil.
This time…
He did not hurry.
He read adequately well.
He was thinking adequately well.
He wrote adequately well.
He exhibited an increased time to finish than typically seen (longer than normal).
Upon completing it:
Julian observed it.
"…Better."
Not so much as a compliment.
Nor was it dismissal.
But, nonetheless it felt real.
In the library:
Soft footfalls echoed once again.
Loid did not immediately look up.
But he became aware.
Charlotte Vale.
She walked in and moved quietly towards a shelf close by.
Julian did not show any immediate signs of being aware.
Jay, who joined them mid-point, did show an awareness.
"…She is in here again." he said quietly.
Loid tried to ignore Jay.
Loid tried.
"Stay focused," Julian said without looking up.
Loid nodded.
Focus.
Not distracting.
Anymore.
"More of these," Julian stated as he pointed to another question.
Loid continued.
Minutes elapsed, then minutes elapsed again.
A new experience occurred:
For the very first time:
Loid was not concerned with how others perceived him.
Loid was not thinking of Charlotte.
Loid was not thinking of failing.
Loid was only.
Working.
Understanding.
Improving.
And it felt:
Different.
"Stop."
Loid blinked.
Julian was observing him.
"…Your understanding is better than it once was."
Loid hesitated.
"…Already?"
"Not lots better yet any noticeable difference," Julian stated very honestly. "But there is some improvement."
He thought to himself, 'That might well be his compliment.'
Loid nearly smiled.
Nearly.
Charlotte glanced their way from way across the room,
Not at Loid directly, but more at the table where the rhino was sitting with friends.
She looked for slightly longer than usual before turning her head away.
Jay noticed it too . . . of course he did.
"…That is so much more evidence of progress," he muttered.
Loid didn't reply, but he too had noticed, this time not searching out the meaning behind
what he had observed.
A shift has occurred.
He was no longer trying to gain recognition.
He was in fact becoming someone deserving of being recognised.
And slowly - quietly - this was beginning to occur.
Julian closed his notebook.
"That's enough work for this session."
Loid looked up at Julian.
"That's it?"
"For this session, anyway," he replied. "It is much more important to be consistent than to work with intensity."
Loid shrugged and agreed.
As the three of them got up - Jay got into the mode of an academic by stretching out.
Julian did not respond to Jay.
Loid picked up his backpack.
He looked around at Charlotte.
She was still in her own world of thought.
This time though, he felt less burdened by the distance that separated them.
He had still not closed that distance through action; he had begun to move toward her.
And it was through action that the universe of possibilities opened up to him.