plateaus in the learning curve

 
[[ this is a type of cycle ]]

 • “plateaus in the curve of learning.”
 • learning curve

How to develop self-confidence & influence people by public speaking
by Dale Carnegie

pp.80─81
The necessity of persistence

   When we start to learn any new thing, like French, or golf, or public speaking, we never advance steadiy.  We do not improve gradually.  We do it by sudden jerks, by abrupt starts.  Then we remain stationary  at time, or we may even slip back and lose some of the ground we have previously gained.  These periods of stagnation, or retrogression, are known by all psychologists; and they have been named  “plateaus in the curve of learning.”  Students of public speaking will sometimes be stalled for weeks on one of these plateaus.  Work as hard as they may, they cannot get off it.  The weak ones give up in despair.  Those with grit persist, and they find that suddenly, overnight, without their knowing how or why it has happened, they have made great progress.  They have lifted from the plateau like an aeroplane.  Abruptly they have gotten the knack of thing.  Abruptly they have acquired naturalness and force and confidence in their speaking.  
   You may always, as we have noted else where in these pages, experience some fleeting fear, some shock, some nervous anxiety the first few moments you face an audience.  But if you will but persevere, you will soon eradicate everything but this initial fear; and that will be initial fear, and nothing more.  After the first few sentences, you will have control of yourself.  You will be speaking with positive pleasure. 

How to develop self-confidence & influence people by public speaking
by Dale Carnegie
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