[GarthB]

Bob:

You brought back memories. From my journal, here is Jim's version of the "Four Stages of Learning":

1. Unconscious Incompetence

You're horsesh!t and you don't know it.

2. Conscious Incompetence

You're horsesh!t and you know it.

3. Conscious Competence

You're competent, but you need to think about what you are doing while performing.

4. Unconscious competence.

You're competent and don't need to think about it, you just do it.

An simple example of this in action:

1. First stage umpires don't utilize the three possible positions for each play because they don't know what they are.

2. Second stage umpires know the three possible positions, but don't use them.

3. Third stage umpires use the three possible positions but have to remind themselves what they are.

4. Fourth stage umpires instinctively utilize the three positions.