up:: [[Habits MOC]]
tags:: #on/habit #on/Practice #on/excellence #on/AQ #on/body #on/strength
dates:: 2015-02-20 (created)
dates:: 2020-05-28 (modified)

# The mechanism for breaking through development plateaus
To break through the a-curve plateau, we must get out of our newly established "automatic mindset", and return to a beginner's "cognitive mindset". 

Physical development by strength training is the clearest example. 
Russian Conjugate Periodization [^1]—used for the physical development of Olympic athletes—shows how to "game" the curve by evolving the routine around every 4-5 weeks, which forces the muscles into their own form of "cognitive thinking."

- [ ] Needs more clarification on "gaming" the curve

A key term here is "adaption." (explore Tom Mysklinski's article to put it into context)

Perhaps continual improvement through this lens can be summed up with a phrase used by the US Marine Corps, Viggo Mortensen, and Clint Eastwood: 

> “Adapt and Overcome."

It’s just about knowing what to overcome…and with skill development, that's called [[Deliberate Practice]].

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Catchy title example

*"The A-Curve To Excellence: how to "game" the Asymptotic Curve to Improve your Skills, increase your strength, etcetera, etcetera*

[^1]: Known as the Conjugate Sequence System and developed by the Soviets, it involves overlapping training arcs, with micro and macro cycles that include unloading phases.