By Lance Winslow 

An Expert is Someone Who Has Put in 10,000 Hours. At least one famous modern day author tells us that an expert is someone who has put in 10,000 hours into their endeavor, hobby, studies and/or profession. Further, it has been stated that generally this takes about 10-years to accomplish. Interestingly enough, this makes a lot of sense, but it also brings up a number of other questions and considerations. How so you ask?

Well, this is very interesting and at a 40-hour work week it would take five-years, not 10-years. But most folks do not put in a solid 40-hours a week at any one thing, rather their job is spread out over several tasks. So, it seems to concur with this theory. However, what if you spent every waking hour doing whatever it was you were doing?

Let's say you worked 17-hours per day, then how long would it take to put in 10,000 hours? The answer is 1.612 years or 223 days. That's pretty quick isn't it? Now let's say you didn't want to be an expert, you just wanted to be at the top of the heap along with the top experts, as a quasi-expert? How long would that take?

Okay, let's think about this and apply the 80/20 rule. What do you have to do to be in the top 20%, it is my contention that you need to spend 17-hours a day for 14-days straight or two weeks. And you can most likely do that on the Internet, along with some practically experience after that. Of course, a good many endeavors you cannot become an expert in until you actually do them.

Riding a motorcycle, flying a plane or playing baseball for instance, of course, if you went to a 1-week soccer camp and then re-signed up and did a second week, and providing you were in good shape, you'd be one with the top 20% of the players that play the game in 2-weeks. See that point? I hope you will remain skeptical to the 10,000 hour rule or 10-years to become an expert. Thank you.