It Takes an Investment of Effort for Tasks to Become Enjoyable
Subject
Nothing is Fun Until You're Good at It
What Chinese parents understand is that nothing is fun until you're good at it. To get good at anything you have to work, and children on their own never want to work, which is why it is crucial to override their preferences. This often requires fortitude on the part of the parents because the child will resist; things are always hardest at the beginning, which is where Western parents tend to give up. But if done…
Similarity
Object
A Useful Metaphor for Maintaining Momentum
"My boy is having his problems being a serious student," I told Eddie. "Well, your studying is very important," Eddie said, while the boy sat smiling a smile that said: an old person his about to hand out some Wisdom. Could this please be over fast? "You know, a jet plane burns its greatest energy taking off; but once it reaches its cruising altitude, it burs less fuel. Just like studying. If you're constantly…
Why they relate
Bill Cosby uses the metaphor of a plane burning the most fuel on takeoff before leveling out in the clouds and Amy Chua argues that skills are fun once a child overcomes the frustration of learning them.