How to get really good at something

According to Professor Anders Ericsson, who has ideas highlighted in Dan Pink's book 'Drive', getting better at something isn't rocket science, but it is hard work.  Follow these steps and you will become a master at whatever pursuit you choose to follow:

1. Remember that deliberate practice has one objective; to improve performance.  Deliberate practice is about changing your performance, setting new goals and straining to reach a little bit higher each time. 
2. Repeat, repeat, repeat.  Top sports performers don't hit 20 tennis balls in practice, they hit 2000!
3. Seek constant and critical feedback.  If you don't know how you're doing, you won't get better.
4. Focus on where you need help.  Too often we focus relentlessly on what we can already do, not what we are struggling to do.
5. Prepare for the process of getting better to be really hard work. If it was easy, we'd all be masters!