10,000 Hours
I have yet to read Malcolm Gladwell's new book Outliers: The Story of Success, but I was fascinated by a recent interview where the author discussed something called the 10,000 Hour Rule, to which he devotes a chapter. He maintains this rule of thumb--to become expert at anything, from arts, to professions to athletics, it requires about 10,000 hours of practice. That would be around 20 hours a week for ten years.
This is bad news for generalists and dilettantes. There aren't that many 10,000 hour chunks available in life. After one has become expert in the disparate skills of sleeping, eating, watching television and driving automobiles from place to place, the windows are few. It has probably taken me all of my 55 years to rack up 10,000 hours of writing--I may still be a little short. But by the rule, you can expect a dramatic improvement in these postings anytime now.
On the other hand, I am close to having my 10,000 hours in on video games that haven't been available for 20 years. They told me then that I was wasting my time. Ya think? And I am close to having 10,000 hours in on playing the guitar, but I'm still kind of lame at it. So one must always account for underlying talent. I definitely have 10,000 hours in on reading science fiction novels, but I search the classifieds in vain for openings that require an expertise in fictional xenosociology. I'll keep practicing; but before turning my hand to something entirely new, I'll keep the rule in mind--tick, tick, tick.
posted by Dale Hobson @ 11/20/2008
3 comments
3 Comments:
Your reference to the nearly countless hours spent becoming an expert at the relatively simplistic video games of yore really struck a chord. If we had put those quarters in an investment account 30 years ago (and cashed out last year)we wouldn't have to be concerned about a lack of expertise in more marketable skills.
BJ
I haven't read Gladwell's book yet, but I have read a few reviews. The idea that sheer time spent will lead to success seems a tad trivial. I propose that the main benefit of time is the living of life itself, and that knowing about life has a good deal to do with getting good at anything. Learning a craft or skill is the relatively easy part. Knowing what to do with it is not so easy.
I have not read Gladwell's book either, but it is a provocative thought - that's a lot of hours.
However, it makes sense. To learn something really well DOES take time (as well as effort) - one must stumble through many mistakes, refine one's judgment, recalibrate one's understanding over and over again to progress truly.
I dispute the previous comment that the relatively easy part is learning the craft or skill. Certainly life experience can be acquired only through time, and is essential to full development in any field. But learning a complex craft or skill is in no way easy - and does require huge investments of time. This learning process often dovetails with the question of what to do with one's craft or skill.
Co-incidentally, my latest post on "Art Throb" addresses this very question. Often, things take time.
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