I have taught Salsa for nearly 22 years as of the writing of this article. I still run a weekly salsa party where students can come and dance after class or just turn up for the after class dancing.
Over the years I regularly see old students who have chosen to stop class and now turn up only to dance. In their mind, they have learned all they can learn and are great dancers. Maybe they have stopped learning in class to save money, perhaps because they think they have learned it all, many are taking free moves off the internet. But they are missing out it’s the small differences that often only a coach can point out that make “that special ” connect and enhance the individual’s ability.
If we look at the most successful sports people and many business people they have coaches. Many of those who want to be successful often find every excuse not to have a coach.
They may even appear to people who do not know the difference that they are great dancers. Many of these people are very average in skill level; they do not flow; their style is staggered, aggressive and poorly balanced they can even hurt their partners. Many of the advanced dancers can on occasion not enjoy dancing with them because it’s hard work.
But they cannot be told.
I see the same thing happen in all areas of education. In business, when we are educating people on business development; in sports and life-skills.
We should never stop learning. If we do it already costs us.
As a kid, I remember being impressed when my Dad told me a man had worked at his job for 50 years. My father looked at me and said is this 50 years experience or 50 x 1-year experience.
Malcolm Gladwell postulates in “Outliers” that we need 10,000 hours of practice to be experts or near the top of our game.
I believe it is essential whatever education you are engaged in to find some way of keeping involved and immersed to hit the potential that often we don’t know we have. There could be a whole new level of success and fun out there.