It is not a question that some are born to do certain things in life. Da Vinci to paint masterpieces, Mozart with his scores, and many other whose names carved in the history of mankind, whose appearance not so frequent as to documented in greatest books of all time.
However, A further study or investigation made by Malcolm in his book made it clear that there are many other factors en route someone to achieving what he gotta achieve. Here how he built his arguments in his book.
This part of the book started with analysis of the Canadian Ice Hockey League players. These players are among the best in the country whose very destiny (seems to) was to play ice hockey. These are the most agile, the most efficient players in the field. Apperently (without rocket science) most of the players are born in January, February and March. Looking at players from previous league the author, as well, found consistency in the month of birth of the players. Starting with this seems to be peculiarity he then realized that the cutoff date of the players recruitment is January 21. This means the boy who was born after January 21 in a particular year will be put in the same class to those born before January 21 the year after. This gives advantage to those who born in January, February and March as they have matured (10 months gap in age can make huge difference in physical maturity during puberty) compared to their younger counterparts. This advantage translates in a better performance in game, better attitude in the field which lead to better qualification, special care i.e more training and so on. Simply put, this °age° advantage leads this January, February and March born players to the more exposure in the field, more opportunity to play and practice, more attention from the coaches and thus shaping them to being better players.
From the previous paragraph it seems that it all boils down to how much time and effort was to give these outliers the extra edge of opportunity shaping them to become what they are. It takes 10,000 hours of practice, exercising and DEDICATION to build maestros and connoisseurs of this world. The author was studying a class of students studying to play violin. These violinists-to-be are then classified in three categories in terms of skills. The first class, the Maestro, are those to play with the best orchestra followed by the second and third. When interviewed, everyone in the first class notably spent the most hours in practicing their violin playing skills. None of those in this first class seems to have that "magic" that somehow just inherited. They have the same share of hours of practice. 10,000 hours. Malcolm then started talking about the Beatles who had theirs, their 10,000 hours. When they were invited to play in a night club in Hamburg where they were given the opportunity to play 7 days a week for long long hours. They had played their 10,000 hours as well before they are the Beatles. Or Bill Gates or Bill Joy (one of the greatest computer engineer genius whose codes are used in internet) or Steve Jobs. These people are lucky enough in getting or making their opportunity in having their 10,000 hours in shaping, sharpening their very skill that lead them to their mastery.
Now, if it is clear to us that it takes 10,000 hours in making our mastery which perhaps will take 10 years or so if in each year we dedicate 1000 hours which means around 2-3 hours a week. What would that be? What would you make your self a maestro in?
Okay, let us take a look at my example. It is still clear in my mind that I was a struggling student in my primary school. When I was in 3rd grade or so my mark was just depressing. My teachers would label me as one of those slow learners. At the end of my 6th Grade my sister passed me a book which called Quantum Learning. This book basically talks about a new way of learning. A more fun way of learning. With its colorful and interesting mindmapping, a way to take notes by drawing symbols and branches in a piece of paper. A fun way of mnemmonics to memorise and a philosophy that learning is a real fun process. I started to indulge my self in studying which not anymore seems to be painful. I started to read every kind of book possible I spent 3 hours or more everyday studying and reading. At the end of my junior high school I was one of the best graduate that led me to end up in one of the best high school in the country. I then studied many different things and continued in my 3 hours of learning ritual. Thus I have spent 8,000 hours of learning at the end of my 6 hours of high school from junior to senior. I obtained a full scholarship in one of the best university in Asia pacific and was able to do many things that stimulateds my intellect. I was an outlier, I was the 1 percent of my country's graduate who was able to get this scholarship. I was lucky. Was I? Yes I was in a way that I had the opportunity to read this book from my sister which led me to series of event that had led me to where I am now.
I am totally convinced that the law of 10,000 hours is a powerful tool in developing mastery. The greatest singer with the most profound technique started singing since they were 4 or 5 which means by the time they are in their 20s they have had their shares of 10,000 hours which shaped them to a singing sensation.
Or just look around you. Look around to the living outliers in your neighborhood. They have had their 10,000 hours.
