‘An Overnight Success Takes 10 Years’

10, 000 hours = 3 hours/day x 10 years. That’s a long time aint it!

Well what if I told you, researchers have found that 10k hrs is the minimum amount of time it takes to achieve ‘success’ at something. Is this true? Let’s find out…

I recently came across this concept through my good friend Anthony’s blog.

I keep hearing about this 10,000 hour rule. 10k hours invested into a particular cognitively complex activity/area or skill is what it takes to become exceptionally great at whatever it is you invest in. And it’s not just 10kh of isolated work. That 10k has feedback, constantly working to improve, repeated failures etc.

This rule… well, rules! It focuses on the effort that someone does to get somewhere, it shows that if placed in an environment that promotes growth, a motivated person can achieve great abilities.

I have a few assumptions for this to work though:

• people have a great capacity to continually learn
• people learn by actively trying things out and failing and trying again
• some of us are blessed by being born awesome at some things but almost anyone can achieve those same abilities with enough focus and effort

First it got me thinking, then it got me curious. It’s from a book called Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell; but it was when Anthony added his two cents that got me curious on getting an idea of the whole dollar on this topic. So I decided to scour the internet (i.e. ‘Google it’) for not just more information on the concept, but rather what people thought. I came across some interesting findings…

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Now, some might mention Mozart as an example of a young talent with no need to practice. Well, to start with listen to any of his very early symphonies and other pieces of music. They are OK but nothing extraordinary — it is seldom symphony orchestras play those works. I would not even be surprised if his dad helped him out here and there.

Secondly, you need to read his biography and understand what happened, his father trained him in all kinds of musical styles, coached him every day, moved to different cities to hear different kinds of music and play with other musicians, provided other opportunities and so forth. So he easily clocked the necessary 10,000 hours of music making. This also points out that the more variations is done, the better use of the 10,000 hours.

I will actually add two more rules to this set:

100 hours — this is what it takes for someone to figure out if they are interested in the talent they want to cultivate. This could be done in less than three months if someone is focused.

1000 hours — this is the level needed to get to a point where someone is familiar and confident in the talent. It means you could go up on stage and do what you want to do without stage fright, or otherwise being worried about the outcome. This takes 1-2 years of focused activity.

10,000 hours — this is where you maximize your talent. You really know what you are doing, you could experiment, have fun, stretch out, try whatever you fancy and you feel you could do it. This takes 8-10 years of focused work.

said Kent Sandvik in his blog. I thought his breakdown of the 10k hrs was really cool. It also made me think, how often do I really give something a 3 month chance. Many times it’s a one time deal and I for some reason decide this is not my interest. Am I missing out on more that activity has to offer?

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I failed as a novelist while adhering to this stringent work ethic. In fact, my novels grew progressively egregious over time, which ironically was to my advantage since only when the novels had become undeniably woeful could I see with utmost clarity that it was time to move on to some other project.

Oh well. Gladwell should have included the don’t bang your head into a wall over and over rule. Or as Einstein put it: Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

said this blog. VERY interesting perspective on it. Is it worth spending 3 months, never mind 10k hrs, on something that you don’t see any improvement in? Aggggh another dilemma!

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Get this, I even came across an ‘eHow’ on How to Use The 10,000 Hour Rule to Achieve Success!

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

• Passion
• Ambition

1. Step1

   

   The most important aspect of using the 10,000 hour rule is to find your passion. Ask yourself what do you absolutely enjoying doing. Discover what you love to do that makes time fly.

2. Step2

   10,000 hours is about 3 hours a day over 10 years. I know 10 years may seem like a long time, but that is why the first step is so important. Spending this kind of time on your passion will not feel like work nor will it feel like 10 years.

3. Step3

   Make adjustments to your 10,000 hour schedule, if you are working part time, try putting in 4 or 5 hours a day. Add additional hours on the weekend or any other time you have off.

4. Step4

   

   Remember that saying, "An overnight night success takes 10 years". Let this be your motivation. If it happens sooner, then that is great, but don’t be discouraged if it takes longer.

5. Step5

   Begin your 10,000 hour journey toward success today. You have nothing to lose, and so much to gain!

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I came across a few more, some trying to subjectively decipher what the ‘rule’ meant and others trying to hunt for the exceptions. As with any rule you have to take it with a grain of salt; know where it can help you, and know where it can hurt you. As for me this definitely isn’t a bad concept to keep in mind. It’s just another friendly reminder that in the end, time tells all…

Banner picture taken from The Emerging Times