10,000 hours - the magic number of great skill

What we call talent is the result of complex interplay of abilities, opportunities and chance to gain an advantage. Malcolm Gladwell

Well-known Canadian writer and journalist, author of several popular science bestsellers Malcolm Gladwell in one of them derived a formula: 10, 000 hours = success.

Many people think that if you were born a genius, the recognition and respect will be in your life by default. Gladwell breaks this stereotype, saying that anyone can become a guru in the business, if you spend it 10, 000 hours.

Formula 10 000 hours Gladwell described in his book "Geniuses and outsiders. Why is one everything and others nothing? " (Outliers: The Story of Success, 2008). In the summary it says:

This is not a "How to become successful." It is a fascinating journey into the world of the laws of life, which you can use to their advantage.

In a book written by a very simple and lively language, analyzes the careers of many successful (for someone - genius) people. For example, Mozart, Bobby Fischer and Bill Gates.

It turned out they all worked for at least 10 000 hours, as long as their names or became common.

Mozart became Mozart

Mozart - a genius. It is an axiom. According to contemporaries, he had a phenomenal memory and hearing. He has worked in all musical forms, and each succeeded. He began writing music at age 6 and has given the world more than 50 symphonies, 17 masses, 23 operas and concertos for piano, violin, flute and other instruments.

However, a look that says psychologist Michael Howe in his book "explanation of genius»(Genius Explained):

"Compared with the work of a mature composer Mozart's early works do not differ outstanding. It is likely that they were written by his father and later corrected. Many children's works of Wolfgang, such as, say, the first seven concertos for piano and orchestra, are largely a compilation of works by other composers. From concerts, wholly owned by Mozart, the earliest, which is considered a great (No. 9. TO. 271), was written by him in twenty-one years. By the time Mozart composed music for ten years. "

Thus, Mozart - genius and prodigy - a truly revealed his talent only after 10,000 hours worked.

Magic number, leading to mastery

Malcolm Gladwell in his book describes an interesting experiment carried out at the Berlin Academy of Music psychologist Anders Eriksson in the early 1990s.

After studying the performance, the Academy students were divided into three groups: the "stars", that is, those who in the near future are likely to be to shine in the musical Olympus; promising "average" (to be widely known in narrow circles); and "outsiders" - those who shine the maximum position of a school singing teacher.

Students were then asked: when they began to make music and how many hours per day they have since withdrawn it?

It turned out that almost all have started playing music at age 5. The first three, all hard practiced - for 2-3 hours a week. But then the situation changed.

Those who today is considered a leader, to 9 years has been doing for 6 hours per week to 12 - 8, and from 14 to 20 years - are not released from the hands of the bow to 30 hours per week. Thus, for 20 years they have accumulated a total of 10,000 hours of practice.

The "average performance", the figure was - 8000, and the "outsiders" - 4000.

Erickson continued to dig in that direction, and found that not a single person who would achieve a high level of skill, not putting much effort.

In other words, to achieve a high level of skill in complex activities is impossible without a certain amount of practice.

Entertaining arithmetic

Gladwell, as well as other researchers, concludes: itself talent without regular polishing - nothing.

So let's calculate how much time you need to work hard to realize their magical 10,000 hours.

10, 000 hours - that's about 417 days, that is a little more than 1 year.

Considering that the average work day (at least for RF TC) 8 hours then 10 000 = 1250 days or 3.5 years. Remembering about the holidays and vacations, and get about 5 years. So much time is needed to work 40 hours a week to accumulate 10,000 hours of experience in a particular area.

And if you remember more about procrastination and constant distractions and admit honestly that on the day we focused and effective work for 4-5 hours, then to the level of the master will have to grow for about 8 years old.

As a result, there are two pieces of news - good and bad. The first is that 10 000 hours - that's a lot. The second is to ensure that everyone can achieve great success in their business, regardless of natural inclinations, and if there is a lot of hard work.

And one more important idea, expounded by Malcolm Gladwell in the pages of his book. The sooner you start moving towards its goal, the sooner you will achieve it. It is better to "start" as a child. In this regard, few people can turn out 10,000 hours of their own - need help from their parents. After all, who knows, would Mozart Mozart, if not a father.