In Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Outliers,” he discusses the theory that 10,000 hours of practice makes perfect. That’s the amount of time, roughly, someone needs to dedicate to a particular task before becoming an expert. This infographic by Zintro visualizes this theory as it pertains to success and career development.
How long would it take the average worker to log 10,000 hours of practice? Someone working on a skill for 20 hours a week would need to stick with it for 9.6 years before becoming an expert. Up the ante to 40 hours a week, and it will only take 4.8 years. Particularly ambitious folks working 60 or 80 hours a week will gain expertise status in 3.6 and 2.4 years, respectively.
Zintro does offer a few tips to defy the 10,000-hour rule for those who don’t have that kind of time. Some of the firm’s recommendations include deliberate practice, an accountability partner, a professional coach and teaching others. Check out the full infographic below.
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(Photo credit: Zintro)
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