It’s fascinating to watch toddlers at play, whether on the playground or in the pool.

Some of them go right for the toy they want, while others hang back and let others proceed first.

Some children get a thrill out of trying new things, while others feel a twinge of anxiety.

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Years ago, I recorded an album of original songs in my parents’ basement in the space of about two weeks.

I played all of the instruments, engineered and mixed all of the music, and even designed the cover and insert.

There was a hard deadline: I was moving to California, and I wanted to get the thing done before then, so I did.

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I never enjoyed cooking very much because I always had the vague sense that I didn’t know what I was doing.

Even though I spent years working in commercial kitchens, I didn’t have much of an awareness of knife technique or other aspects of food preparation. Therefore, I was intimidated by recipes. I stuck to routine meals that I could figure out through trial and error.

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Last week, I experienced one of the most important events of my entire year.

It was the annual Recognition Ceremony for The Little Middle School, where we share praise for each other, present awards, and reflect on how we’ve grown and changed.

The event was only seventy-five minutes long, but it required much preparation. Award recipients had to be chosen, certificates and programs printed, and gifts purchased.

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The other day, a friend sent pictures of five pies she and her wife had made.

"Recipe testing," she said.

And I had to laugh. Of course. Recipe testing. That makes so much sense. And I've never done it.

It's another example of how people who are good at a thing have a fundamentally different approach from those who aren't. The people who are good at the thing use a different set of tactics that yields much better results.

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