“Success is a function of persistence and doggedness and the willingness to work hard for 22 minutes to make sense of something that most people would give up on after thirty seconds” – Malcolm Gladwell
At my son’s little league end-of-season party yesterday, his coach gave him some great advice which served as an excellent reminder to me and that I thought would be beneficial to share here today as it is relevant in sports, work, and life.
The advice was the rule of 10,000 Hours which in his case for baseball included consistent practice, goal setting, and accountability.
- Practice hitting every day.
- Set a goal of how many hits you get before the Spring season starts and accomplish that goal.
- Be accountable for accomplishing your goals; it is not up to anyone else.
Malcolm Gladwell popularized the rule of 10,000 hours in his book “Outliers.” The rule is that if you practice one skill for 10,000 hours, you will become an expert at it.
In baseball, consistently practicing will allow you to overtake those with the natural ability who are not practicing. Putting in the time is a significant factor that separates those who are good from the GOATs (Greatest of All Time).
When it comes to professional services, the 10,000 rule is highly relevant. Whether you are an attorney, financial adviser, CPA, or real estate professional, your clients want to work with experts in whatever niche they need.
By putting in the time (10,000 hours, as Malcolm Gladwell explains) and truly learning your craft, you will become the expert in your niche and be successful. It is what will separate you from the rest of the professionals in your field. It will not happen overnight, but it will happen with the proper effort, goals, and a plan to get there.
