Last year I read Malcom Gladwell's book Outliers. It's an easy and quick read about successful people and the conditions and circumstances that made them successful. One of the things he documents is that people like Bill Gates, Yitchak Pearlman or even the Beatles, each have put in a certain number of hours before becoming a notable talent, or an expert. What's the magic number? 10,000 hours.
Most of us can only document 10,000 hours of sleeping, eating or maybe doing laundry. But to put in 10,000 hours of practicing something in order to become great at it, is a true commitment. Some would say it is a lifetime-commitment.
I bring this up because we no doubt live in a society where we want things to happen fast. We want them yesterday. We stand in front of the microwave and wonder, "When is this going to be done already?"
The real question is: What are we willing to put in 10,000 for? What do I want to be an expert at?
I want to be healthy. I better start putting in 10,000 hours of eating right, excercising and not overindulging in things that would keep me from being fit.
I want to be happy. I better find ways to log 10,000 doing things that not only make me happy, but contribute to the happiness of the world. If can create a happy world, there's a good chance I will get caught up in the happiness I create.
I want peace. I better start not only sincerely praying for peace, but I need to participate in 10,000 hours of peace-making activities starting in my home, my workplace, my place of worship.
I want to end hunger, I want prosperity, I want fulfillment, I want, I want I want I want......
To become an expert, to make it happen, I have to put in the time. There is no magic formula, just a magic number. Thanks for pointing that out, Malcom. I'm on it.
Most of us can only document 10,000 hours of sleeping, eating or maybe doing laundry. But to put in 10,000 hours of practicing something in order to become great at it, is a true commitment. Some would say it is a lifetime-commitment.
I bring this up because we no doubt live in a society where we want things to happen fast. We want them yesterday. We stand in front of the microwave and wonder, "When is this going to be done already?"
The real question is: What are we willing to put in 10,000 for? What do I want to be an expert at?
I want to be healthy. I better start putting in 10,000 hours of eating right, excercising and not overindulging in things that would keep me from being fit.
I want to be happy. I better find ways to log 10,000 doing things that not only make me happy, but contribute to the happiness of the world. If can create a happy world, there's a good chance I will get caught up in the happiness I create.
I want peace. I better start not only sincerely praying for peace, but I need to participate in 10,000 hours of peace-making activities starting in my home, my workplace, my place of worship.
I want to end hunger, I want prosperity, I want fulfillment, I want, I want I want I want......
To become an expert, to make it happen, I have to put in the time. There is no magic formula, just a magic number. Thanks for pointing that out, Malcom. I'm on it.