Rule 10 000 experiments will succeed

What is the essence of this rule and why it works better than others

One of the most well-known formulas of success now, perhaps, is considered generally 10,000 hours of practiceWhich was popularized by writer Malcolm Gladwell. It states that in order to become a master in any case, you need to consciously practice 10,000 hours.

But recent studies have shown that this rule really does not explain the success, particularly professionalDeliberate Practice and Performance in Music, Games, Sports, Education, and Professions: A Meta-Analysis.. Deliberate practice can be useful in areas that are slow to change or do not change at all (sports, music). But in rapidly developing areas (technology, business), it is practically useless. Therefore, to be successful, it is necessary to increase the number of experiments, rather than hours.

For this one day was not just a list of what needs to be done, but also a list of what you want to test as did Leonardo da Vinci. Every morning, he wrote that he wanted to find out today. For example, why do people yawn? What is the language of the woodpecker?

During the day, do not just carry out normal activities and continuously collect data. In the evening, analyze them and draw conclusions.

For example, you want to increase sales results by asking the client to a new question. Now, every conversation with the client will be an opportunity to ask this question, and to collect data to improve sales in the future. Or do you want to sleep better, to feel more cheerful. Then try different ways to sleep, use sleep tracker to collect objective information about the quality and quantity of their sleep, and then change the mode accordingly.

Why does it guarantee success

Why do the majority of people does not lead such a lifestyle? First, we live in an era when all obsessed with productivity. We strive to do more and spend less time, systematize and automate everything. Of course, such an approach is very difficult to take the time to experiment with unpredictable results, which may not bring any benefit.

Secondly, we are afraid that we will not work, that all of our experiments will be useless. With the failure of our associated feelings of shame and disappointment in myself. Still worth a try.

If you try again and again, the odds are still in your favor.

You will learn from their mistakes, the quality of each of the following experiment will improve. In addition, a great victory will pay for all of your losses.

Think of Thomas Edison. When he decided to do light bulbs, it was already more than 20 arc llamas options. How he was able to achieve success with such competition? Just he and his colleagues spent day and night thousands of experiments, not yet invented the incandescent lamp.

After that, he did not stop. Edison continued to experiment with electricity, cinema, telecommunications, sound recording and batteries. By today's standards it was Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg rolled into one.

Today, especially a lot of ways to experiment. Various applications, services and trackers help to collect and interpret data, to conduct reporting and monitor their progress in real time.

How to apply a rule in life

It all begins with a single experiment. Think with what you are best to start. Some require huge amounts of time or money. Some will gradually teach you something, others can quickly change your entire life. In some chance of success is only 1%, others - 99%.

Choosing your first experiment, focus on those cases that do not require you to great cost and time can somehow change your life and have a reasonable chance of pay off.

Also, try to carry out three tests per day. In the morning, choose what you want to learn. During the day, collect data, analyze the results and in the evening. Stick to the plan at least a month, and then look at how it has affected your life.