📚 How to learn anything in 20 hours!
Nov 25, 2023 4:06 pm
Hey .
You may have heard of the 10,000-hour rule at some point in your life.
In case you have not heard of it, the idea came from the researcher Anders Ericsson and was made famous by author Malcolm Gladwell in his book "Outliers."
And what the 10,000 rule stated was this:
"The key to achieving true expertise in any skill is simply a matter of practising, albeit in the correct way, for at least 10,000 hours." - Anders Ericsson
I remember reading the book a few years ago and thinking to myself:
“Well that's discouraging.” 🥲
After learning about this, I just felt awful because it seemed like I had fallen so far behind and felt that it’d take me forever to learn any skill I wanted to master.
Luckily, I found this TED Talk not long after my Outliers-caused discouragement:
The first 20 hours - how to learn anything | Josh Kaufman
In his talk, Josh says that the 10,000-Hour Rule has been misunderstood over the years.
What a lot of people think that the rule means that you need to practise something for 10,000 hours in order to get good at it.
But what it really means is that to get to the top 1% in a field, you need to practise for 10,000 hours.
Josh learned that in reality, learning a new skill only takes around 20 hours.
And if you use those 20 hours wisely, you can learn a lot very quickly.
He breaks it down into four steps:
1. Deconstruct the skill:
- Break the skill down into smaller, easier-to-handle parts and figure out which ones are the most important.
2. Learn enough to self-correct:
- Find out what you are doing wrong so you can fix it, but do not get too involved in the details; stick to the basics.
3. Remove barriers to practise:
- Set up an environment for easy, regular practise, minimise distractions, and make it easy to focus.
4. Practise for at least 20 hours:
- Commit at least 20 hours of focused practise to learning the skill.
Here an example:
Let’s say you wanted to learn video editing. Here’s how to use the 20 hour rule.
a. Break down video editing into manageable components like cutting, transitions, and effects, and identify key software features that will have the most impact on your editing skills.
b. Gather basic knowledge to fix mistakes, make adjustments, and focus on understanding the fundamental tools and functions of the editing software.
c. Set up a dedicated workspace for video editing with minimal distractions. And ensure your computer and editing software are easily accessible for regular practise.
d. Allocate 20 hours of deliberate practise to edit different types of videos, experimenting with various features. These can be spread out into several days or weeks depending on how fast you want to learn the skill.
🎙️ PODCAST RECOMMENDATION OF THE WEEK
Another one of my favourite authors is interviewed in this episode, Adam Grant. His books are among my favourites, and they are ones I always recommend people check out (Think Again, Originals, and Give and Take). He even has a new one coming out called Hidden Potential, which I am so excited to read.
Adam and Jay Shetty talk about why growth is so important in our lives and explain how to grow through discomfort in this episode of On Purpose with Jay Shetty. They dig deep into tough topics like dealing with discomfort, finding your true voice, and what learning is all about.
Here’s what you should expect to learn:
- Why Growth Is So Important
- How To Face Discomfort
- Whether or not you should care what other people think
- How a life coach can help you
- How to find your authentic voice
- How to get out of your comfort zone
- Why you Need To Study Your Role Models
- How To Succeed Without Perfection
- How doubt Can Be Helpful
- Whether or not self promotion is bad
- How to promote your work
- And more!
🎥 YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THE WEEK
If I Started a Business Again Today, I'd Do This | Ali Abdaal
In this YouTube video, Ali Abdaal talks about what he calls the "feel-good business model" and what he has learned from working in business for six years.
Basically, this model, which is different from traditional and high-growth startup approaches, prioritises the owner's enjoyment, work-life balance, and flexibility over aggressive growth.
Ali suggests picking a business path that fits your skills and interests, whether it is providing services, making products, or creating content.
Finally, he talks about some common mistakes people make when they are just starting out. These include not testing the market, growing too quickly, and not balancing work and life.
I think this video will be very useful for you.
✍️ QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"The magic you seek is in the work you are avoiding." - Unknown
🤔 QUESTION OF THE WEEK
What haven't I taken the time to learn about?
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That's all, folks. I can't wait to hear what you think. Which one did you like the most? What would you like to have more or less of? Simply reply to this email.
Have a wonderful week!
I appreciate you taking the time and trusting me with it.
Have a wonderful week!
Nurain.
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