10,000 Hours

According to experts that’s how long it takes to become a world-class expert or to excel in a particular field. Of course it doesn’t guarantee that you WILL become an expert in that time but if you don’t put in the hours you won’t make it. If you do make it, you will have put in the hours. At least that’s what scientific research has discovered. Even Mozart wasn’t instantly a genius when he composed his first piece of music. Picasso’s early drawings and paintings wouldn’t have earned the millions that his paintings now command, if he hadn’t put in the hours to learn his skill, become well known and then to succeed in his chosen profession.

10,000 hours. That’s only a mere 40hrs a week over 5 years or 20 hours a week over 10 years to become a world-class expert. No one who has succeeded and become world-class has done it in less time. There’s nothing to substitute for practise, practise, practise and to have the persistence to keep going, even when the rewards aren’t there.

No one is born a genius. They may have a genetic advantage but even the most talented performer, artist or musician has only got there through hours of practice. Put in the time, put in the effort and you will succeed. You might not be ‘world-class’ but you will certainly be an expert in your field and will be pretty accomplished at whatever task you set out to complete.

So, what do you want to become an expert in? What new skill would you like to learn?

Get started now, set the time aside to practice and start ticking off those 10,000 hours.