In 2008, pop sociology author Malcolm Gladwell published the bestselling book Outliers: The Story of Success.In it, he sought to uncover what sets apart those who highly excel in their fields.
Outliers offered many insights into the factors that distinguished historical and present-day success stories.However, one proved stickier than all the rest: the 10,000 hours rule.
From technology to sports, politics, business, and the arts, no one becomes a true outlier in their field without a minimum of 10,000 hours to achieve expertise, Gladwell explains.
The idea gained immediate traction. Many loved the idea of huge achievement through effort. But widespread attention also attracted criticism of the concept.
Critics of the 10,000 hours rule point out that it is impossible to measure, and that not all effort is the same.The rule also does not account for things like luck, natural talent, or privilege.
New research continually emphasizes the truth that practice and effort matter greatly to success.What you get out of anything depends on what you put into it.
In almost all cases, high achievers distinguish themselves by working harder, and for longer, than their peers.But the critics are onto something, too.
The 10,000 hours rule is not perfect, but it does get one thing right:Focused effort is key to building expertise. If putting a number on that goal helps you get there, then have at it.