The First 20 Hours: how to learn anything

Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 hours has become a cultural meme (if you haven't heard it, then you've just not been infected yet.) Now here's Josh Kaufman telling us that we can learn anything in 20 hours.

The numbers are not contradictory: it takes 10,000 hours, or something like that, to reach expertise in a field; but in twenty hours you can learn a single skill, well enough to feel good about what you've done.

Kaufman has written a book, "The First 20 Hours" describing his method in detail, and giving examples from his own practice: yoga, programming, touch typing, go, ukulele and windsurfing.

His formula:

1. Choose something you love
2. Focus on one skill at a time
3. Define your performance level
4. Divide skills into sub-skills
5. Get the critical tools
6. Eliminate barriers to practice
7. Make dedicated time for practice
8. Create fast feedback loops
9. Practice in short bursts timed by the clock
10. Emphasize quantity and speed

He's got several talks on YouTube in which he explains his method; one thing that I thought was underscored in his talks is this: commit to practice 20 hours. That can help get you past the feeling of incompetence that is inevitable when start on a new skill.

RSA:

Interview: