How to Get Good at Everything

2015-06-26 · letter vlog · Hank · 3:46 · watch on YouTube

Topic: Everyday life (also: Books & writing) · mode: Explainer

Hank, daunted by his slow first novel and his writer brother, argues with Carol Dweck's growth mindset that skill and talent are not innate but built through work, so recognizing this is the first step to getting good at anything, including writing a book.

What is said

The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).

00:00:00 — Hank's novel: begun in NaNoWriMo, 50,000 words by June 26th, far from done; intimidated by his writer brother

★★★ Hank says he has been writing a novel-like book, not secretly but without broadcasting it, starting during NaNoWriMo in November (November 2014). — 00:00:01
★★ Hank says he reached 15,000 words during November and, as of June 26th, has hit NaNoWriMo's 50,000-word mark, unbothered by his slowness. — 00:00:11
★★ Hank says many books are much longer than 50,000 words; some of his favorites run to about 400,000-500,000 words. (hedged) — 00:00:26
★★ Hank says that with revisions he will probably still be writing the book a year from now, which terrifies him; it is unlike anything he has done and he has no reason to believe he can. (hedged) — 00:00:32
★★ Hank says his brother is not only a very successful writer but a very good one, which is intimidating, and playfully tells John to stop being so talented. (playful) — 00:00:46 · John Green

00:00:58 — Two ways to imagine skill; Carol Dweck's fixed vs growth mindset; why the growth mindset is correct and helps people learn

★★★ Hank describes two ways to imagine skill: as innate, a fixed snapshot of a person, which is how he usually thinks of skilled people; or as a continuum where everyone starts bad and can get good. — 00:01:08
★★★ Hank says psychologist Carol Dweck has studied these two mindsets for over 30 years, calling the belief in innate talent the fixed mindset and the belief in acquired skill the growth mindset. — 00:01:42
★★★ Hank says the growth mindset is correct, a truer reflection of reality: no one is born good at math or a good writer, or even capable of abstract thought or communication. — 00:01:58
★ Hank says talking is a skill that took them both a long time to master, and he has got better at it since becoming a professional speaker to camera. — 00:02:25
★★★ Hank says people with the growth mindset show a measurable increase in their ability to acquire new skills, while believing skill is innate keeps people from ever getting good. — 00:02:37

00:02:56 — The main trick: realize skill and talent are not innate but built by work; a good book comes from rewriting a bad one

★★★ Hank says the main trick and first step to getting good at things is realizing that skill and talent are not innate but come from hard work. (hedged) — 00:02:56
★★ Hank says skills are made of things like self-control, empathy and reinforced neural pathways, which psychology has proven are malleable, so we can change them. — 00:03:04
★★ Hank says the only way to write a good book is probably to write a bad one, work out why it's bad, and then make it good. (hedged) — 00:03:21

00:03:31 — Hank will do the thing and keep writing; 'John, stop writing so I can catch up'; sign-off

★★ Hank says he has to do that and it will take a long time, but he is going to do it, and tells John to stop writing so he can catch up, then not to stop. — 00:03:31 · John Green

In the description and comments

★★ The description says everyone is bad at first, so people shouldn't judge themselves against those who have been developing skills their whole lives. — video description

Threads in this video

update · Hank writes An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, his first novel (2014) — Hank confirms he has been writing a novel-like book since NaNoWriMo in November, has passed 50,000 words as of June 26th, expects at least another year with revisions, and says he will keep going. (00:00:01)
restate · Are skill and talent innate, or acquired through work? — Hank argues skill and talent are not innate but come from hard work and malleable traits; everyone starts out bad, and the growth mindset is the truer view. (00:02:56)
restate · Are good books made in revision rather than in a fast first draft? — Hank says the only way to write a good book is probably to write a bad one, see why it's bad, and make it good. (00:03:21)
promised · Hank: write his novel, drafting badly and revising until it is good (2015) — Hank commits to doing the work of writing his novel, bad draft first and then making it good, though it will take a long time. (00:03:31)

Where the stories that moved here went next

Hank: write his novel, drafting badly and revising until it is good (2015) — open (updates through 2016, not reported done); last: progress update, 2016-06-10
Hank writes An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, his first novel (2014) — told 5×, last update 2024; last: retold, 2024-08-07

Mentioned

Central: Carol Dweck · fixed mindset · growth mindset · Hank's novel in progress (2015)

Also: National Novel Writing Month

Only in the description or credits: The power of believing that you can improve

Also centred on fixed mindset: Why Are Fewer People Studying Science and Engineering?

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