How do you learn anything new and intimidating? The books The Four Hour Work Week and Four Hour Chef teach it is all summed up through the acronym DSSS (D^3).

For learning a new language, sport, or whatever subject… this applies:

Deconstruction – break the subject down into its basic building blocks

Selection – figure out what 20% of the block will get you 80% of the results

Sequencing – figure out what order you should learn that 20% in

Stakes – figure out how you can take accountability for learning them

Other terms (I will add to later):

1. failure points

2. adherence > effectiveness > efficiency

3. information gap

4. margin of safety

5. serial positioning effect

Now to leave you with a band who has mastered this… every song they play is based of 4-5 chords: http://www.youtube.com/user/axisofawesome