From Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outliers_(book) :
 
Outliers: The Story of Success is a non-fiction book written by Malcolm Gladwell and published by Little, Brown and Company on November 18, 2008. In Outliers, Gladwell examines the factors that contribute to high levels of success...and how The Beatles became one of the most successful musical acts in human history...and  he repeatedly mentions the "10,000-Hour Rule", claiming that the key to success in any field is, to a large extent, a matter of practicing a specific task for a total of around 10,000 hours.
 
Which basically means to master ANYTHING you need to spend EXACTLY 8 hours a day, five days a week, 50 weeks a year (with a two week vacation), For Five Years Straight!  
 
I've been with Cakewalk since Pro Audio 9 and I bet I don't have that many hours using the software. I guess maybe if you count the time trouble shooting it...j/k :-) Holy Moly.
 
So much to learn and so little time to learn it...
 
Focus, Focus, Focus, on what's most important.
 
  p.s. I didn't read the book, just came across the quote.

That'll be why I can't nail the intro to Sweet Child Of Mine. Phew, I thought it was me!

I wonder if that's how you become an alcoholic?

Yes , that´s it. Everything which is written in a book is real!
To repeat a song on and on is imo a very good practice to play experienced on stage, but if one repeats to much, over a certain point which is different to every musician, he will play and sound simply bored.

Practicing means hard work and lots of rests inbetween. When learning how to play an instrument I have to throw myself in it until it scrambles my little brain. Then when I take a well deserved break (couple days or maybe even a week) I go back to it and I have learned and improved.

SO I do understand about throwing yourself into a creative spot. But when it starts getting tedious, well...just rest and don't stress.

A good work ethic is always needed for success.

Lyric writing (write every day and finish each song) even if you think it sounds rubbish.

production: produce and finish it!

Sing and use your ranges and use the elements in a song!

How often should you do this? I think atleast an hour on each one!

Long and short!

Produce a track in less than an hour.

Produce a track in less than two weeks. (makes sure you complete it)

How often...as often as you can.

treat it like your 9 - 5.

Everyone needs to stretch their capability and go beyond what is their normal "comfort zone"

I'm currently working on copying a guitar solo and this one is indeed, way more technical than anything I've ever worked on in the past, and I might not get there! (Pretty sure I won't, my fingers just don't work that fast!)

BUT, it's taught me a fair bit about how solos of this nature are put together and the experience will hopefully bear fruit in my own projects whenever a guitar solo is needed.

I think the idea is just to give it a go, then you will be surprised what you may achieve. As you say, it may not be exactly how you want it to be but atleast you will be getting there!

Really weird - I just spent 10 minutes talking to my client about this exact subject, and then i opened the forum browser.. Spoookeeee! :O)

Outliers: The Story of Success is a wonderful book.

best regards,
mike

So... for many of us.... it means a lifetime of study. 

Look at folks like Andres Segovia..... do what they did.