A couple of days ago, Trent at The Simple Dollar wrote a review of the book, Outliers. I haven't read the book yet, but I had seen the author, Malcolm Gladwell, last week discussing it on all the talk shows.
The subject is success, and Gladwell shows that raw talent has less to do with success than I had thought. While he discusses many of the other factors that are more important than talent, the one I find the most encouraging is the 10,000 hour rule.
When I was young, I spent some time dabbling in activities like gymnastics, piano, tennis, and singing. As I got older, I also tried drawing, knitting, painting, and now writing. I've pretty much always operated under the assumption that if I wasn't great at something right off the bat, I lacked the raw talent, and would never become really good at that endeavor. So, I never stuck with any of them.
I figured I hadn't found my "true talent," because I hadn't found the thing I was good at right from the get go.
While, of course, there must be a bit of talent to make someone truly successful at something, the great news from Gladwell's book is that, really, it takes about 10,000 hours of practice for someone to really excel.
To some that may sound like terrible news, TEN THOUSAND HOURS? But for me it gives me hope. My writing isn't where I would like it to be, and I often get impatient and frustrated with the progress. But the thing is, I love it. I want to do it even if I'm not any good at it. So how great is it to know, that if I keep at it, I might actually be a real writer someday?
I know 10,000 hours is a whole lot of time, but now I have an actual excuse for the practice of writing. It doesn't feel like idle, wasted hours. It's not just something I like doing, it's also something I actually can get better at.
For all of you that kept at your piano lessons and drawing classes, I suppose you already knew this. But for me, it's a very exciting thing to learn, even if it did take me nearly 45 years.
There's actually a whole classification scheme. It really does fairly accurately reflect relative competence.
10000 hrs: Expert (superior proficiency, a designer capable of original and extraordinary work)
3000 hrs: Master (proficient mechanic and capable of almost any task)
1000 hrs: Journeyman (competent technician, capable of independent routine tasks)
300 hrs: Apprentice (some skills but can not be trusted to do independent work)
0 hrs: Novice (something any reasonably intelligent layman can do)
In the educational scheme, these are known as high school, associate, bachelor, master, and phd level. These hours are active learning hours. Mindless repetition does not count towards the total. After all, I have spent more than 10000 sleeping but it was all much the same. Rather it is the degree of effort that is needed to distinguish one level from the next. You will note that it is logarithmic which is an interesting point! The next level would be at about 30000 hours! That level is reserved for the Mozarts and Gallileos of the world.
If you have 10000 hours to burn, I'd like to throw out the idea of learning ancient Greek or Old English.
See e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L7VTH8ii_8
Posted by: Early Retirement Extreme | December 10, 2008 at 12:02 AM
There's actually been quite a bit of research on developing expert performance. I talked a bit about it in this post:
http://www.wisebread.com/how-to-become-an-expert
Posted by: Philip Brewer | December 10, 2008 at 03:33 AM
@Jacob: Well at age 45 I hope I've got a LOT more than 10,000 hours to burn! Seems like I could get really good at quite a few things.
As to the ancient Greek or Old English, since I haven't actually READ the book yet, I can only presume that actual interest also accounts for a fair measure of success :)
@Phillip: As you have done before, you have led me to a very well written and thought out post on the subject--thanks!
Posted by: Retired Syd | December 10, 2008 at 04:18 PM
Coolness! I guess intense practice really does make perfect. Best wishes on your endeavours (spelling? sorry!).
Posted by: Jules | December 21, 2008 at 12:25 AM
Of course you do!
At 1 hour a day, 365 days a year, it would take 27.4 yrs. Double that learning time, and it would be 13.7 years. Add another hour and it would be 9.13 hours.
And, you get to take the extra day every 4 years off!
I discovered your blog yesterday and am enjoying reading it.
Posted by: walkinwood | June 16, 2009 at 08:23 AM
walkinwood: Thanks for visiting and especially for your comment!
Posted by: Retired Syd | June 17, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Relish the journey.
Alan Spector
--co-author of Your Retirement Quest (www.YourRetirementQuest.com)
--author of new release, Body Not Recovered (www.aaspector.com)
Posted by: Alan Spector | September 29, 2015 at 10:27 AM
I am a recent retiree and I too enjoy your blog! I hope you keep writing it! Thanks for your openness and down to earth approach. By the way you look terrific for 8 years in and you look lovely in bold black and white outfits - judging from your pic. Keep having fun and sharing with us!! Thanks, Nancy from New York.
Posted by: nancy tolan | October 07, 2015 at 05:18 PM
Nancy: Thanks for your nice comment and ESPECIALLY about the bold black and white. A bunch of my friends and family have been pestering me to wear more COLOR. I've ventured into pink and plum, but really I'm way more attracted to the black and white geometric prints. So maybe I can just wear what I want now?
Posted by: Retired Syd | October 07, 2015 at 05:29 PM
You look awesome!!! I just read your earlier blogs and wow you retired so young!!! You sound like you have it all together and are a very intelligent woman! I retired in 2015 at age 55. I am loving it more and more! Looking forward to more updates. Best, Nancy
Posted by: nancy tolan | October 07, 2015 at 05:47 PM