10,000 Hours? Shoot Me Now
According to Malcom Galdwell’s new book Outliers, it says the mastery of skill takes 10,000 hours of practice. I haven’t read that book, but I’m sure it means 10,000 hours of correct, focused practice. That’s such a de-motivator. It seems so overwhelming.
This means you need to practice something 5 hours a day every day for 5 years to master it. 5 years is not a long time, but 5 hours a day every day is. People can get burnt out from that. I guess that’s why some people take 10, 20, or even 30+ years to master something.
I don’t feel like I have that type of time. It’s probably because I was raised in the instant-gratification culture of America. Or maybe I’m not disciplined enough. But I know people who have great focus. I envy them.
This must be the source of all of my problems!
Naomi
12 Nov 08 at 7:44 am
Initially, before you did the math for me, I thought, ‘Eh, I bet I could do it if I were focused.’
And then I saw five YEARS. WTF? Five hours a day every day for FIVE YEARS? Uh, no. I don’t think I could do that even if I *were* focused.
So good luck to all of those fine folks out there who are focused.
cardiogirl
17 Nov 08 at 5:11 am