Takes 10,000 hours to become an expert in your field

Thankful · #1 03-08-2012

So I was at my university lecture couple weeks ago, when my teacher mentioned that it takes 10,000 hours scientifically to become an expert in your field be that art, sport or business - you can.

I think this rule is fairly accurate, and there is evidence to support it.

It really has motivated me and now i find myself reading alot on business and non fiction - learning alot by simply reading between 1-2hr a day, i think it's a great mind frame to have in life, I believe its same thing as going to the gym and doing that same bicep exercise for years and 1000s of hours results will show and you become somewhat of an expert in your field - your able to give advice and guide people in the right way.

I think it applies to nearly everything to be honest, even the forums as we can see alot of the older members are well tuned and able to answer questions most of the time, due to hours of reading & experience i guess, although eBay is changing all the time, members always try to stay on top!

*My New - New Year Resolution to read a new non fiction book every month*

Do you guys agree with "10000 hour rule or ten year rule"?

GrannyT · #2 03-08-2012

The more we know - the less we know - everytime we learn something we also learn there are 10 times as many things that we don't know. We used to believe the world was flat and that the sun revolved around the earth - they have just discovered galaxies that are 10.3 billion light years away.

No body ever becomes an expert - just very knowledgeable in their chosen field

Many years ago I studied and practised law and I was in awe of my teachers and my betters, now, with age, I realise it was all done by mirrors and all they knew was which book to look in

rsot · #3 03-08-2012

I would agree with 10000 hour rule - maybe 7500 in some cases. A lot has to do with motivation and persistence.

jamcocktail21 · #4 03-08-2012

Totally agree,but is not 10000 hours exactly

Somebody needs 5000hr somebody 7000hr depends who is the person,ability to learn,what kind of learner is the person,motivation as you said and the list goes on and on...

I also agree that we have luck just 1% everything else depends on us

just my 2 cents...Thanks

Thankful · #5 03-08-2012

Interesting replies back

- Yeah 10,000 hours is just the rough estimate really it can vary obviously depending on the person.

jeffweico · #6 03-08-2012

I think that is about right. And GrannyT made the comment that it was not that her teachers knew everything, but they knew which book to look in.

Buit that is really what counts. Nobody can know everything. I always used to tell the people working for me that I don't have all the answers. Usually I have a very good idea of where to go to GET the answers. When trying to come up with a new method of doing something, I would always welcome any ideas, from managers or janitors. You never know where a good idea is going to come from because everyone has a different take on things due to their own experiences. But if I needed something SPECIFIC, I would try to go to the best person for an answer. For example, if you need to know when the garbage at your office is picked up, you wouldn't go to the IT department. And if you wanted something automated, you wouldn't consult the janitor. You would go to whomever is most likely to be able to help you.

Even Doctors don't know everything. But hopefully, the ones working on you know when they need to refer you to a specialist. You regular doctor has extensive knowledge of the circulatory system and the heart, but they are NOT a Cardiologist. And if you have a heart problem, you WANT a cardiologist.

But, yeah, 10,000 hours sounds about right. I was in one industry for about 20 years, but it was only in the final 10 years that I reached the Director level. And probably only the last 6 or 7 when I didn't feel like I was faking that!