Q What is the ratio of KNOWERS to DOERS?
A In our experience not better than 250:1.
The School of Thinking (SOT) is for mastery in lateral thinking.
One of the foundational concepts of the School of Thinking, since 1979, has been a focus on the difference between KNOWLEDGE and SKILL. The gap between Knowing and Doing. The choice between Talk and Action. The performance between Mediocrity and Virtuosity. In other words, mastery. And, we have prescribed the way to bridge the gap between KNOWING and DOING as … PRR.
How to Measure Mastery
We have invented a training metric for mastery called the DFQ. To successfully complete the SOT Master of Lateral Thinking the trainee must complete 400 DFQs. That is, 200 DFQs in year one plus 200 DFQs in year two. This elite kind of mastery training is not for everyone. Most people only want to know about things and they don’t want to actually practise. That’s perfectly normal. This training is for the super-normal.
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In SOT training PRR stands for Practise, Repetition and Rehearsal.
PRR is the strategy behind all SOT training and the currency is hours. The metric is hours. The investment is hours of PRR. This focus on PRR is how SOT has achieved such a remarkable reputation for x10 results over the years.
It is PRR which differentiates SOT from other online training programs like Coursera and Udacity.
Here is an exerpt written in 1982 by SOT co-founder, Michael Hewitt-Gleeson, in the Learn-To-Think Coursebook (Capra New, Santa Barbara 1982):
Just as a pilot’s operating ability can be assessed by the hours he has logged in his Pilot’s Log Book, the same applies to thinking skill.
In a recent survey conducted by SOT to find the training hours needed to acquire a basic skill and confidence in that skill in the following areas, the experts at the Julliard School in New York estimated the following:
Piano ………. 450 training hours
Singing ………. 900 training hours
Alto Sax ………. 600 training hours
Cello ………. 900 training hours
Flute ………. 900 training hours
Viola ………. 1200 training hours
Violin ………. 1200 training hours
Trumpet ………. 300 training hours
Trombone ………. 600 training hours’
Guitar ………. 150 training hours
Harmonica ………. 50 training hours
Read Music ………. 150 training hours
Kung Fu ………. 600 training hours
It was pointed out that this level of training would not give a virtuoso ability, but would give a good operating or performing ability or SKILL.
Not surprisingly, the same applies to acquiring an operating skill or performing ability in the skill of thinking. Until you have logged a minimum of 50 training hours in thinking as a deliberate skill, do not criticize yourself if you find you are still on the downside of KNOWING versus DOING.