We recently started a new tradition here at the office. At the beginning of our bi-weekly staff meetings, a member of our management team begins the gathering with a five-minute speech highlighting something they’ve learned or find interesting. Think of it as a mini-TED talk if you will.
After exceptional speeches from CEO Ben Keesey, Communications Director Noelle West, and VP of Business Operations Chris Sarette, this week the man of the hour, or one-twelfth of the hour, was Jedidiah Jenkins, Director of Idea Development.
Jed spoke of Malcolm Gladwell’s theory that anyone can become a professional, in anything, once they’ve logged 10,000 hours of practice. In his book Outliers, Gladwell cites Bill Gates and The Beatles as examples of this theory.
According to Gladwell, between 1960-1964 the Beatles performed 1,200 live shows in Hamburg, Germany – thus amassing 10,000 hours of playing time. Upon returning home from the Germany in 1964, the Beatles legacy began to take off.
Similarly, at the age of 13 Bill Gates gained access to a high school computer, spent 10,000 hours learning coding an programming, and eventually went on to start Microsoft.
Jed also spoke of the theory that we have two systems of thought; the first is subconscious and automatic and the second consists of things we have to think about. For example, walking, breathing, clapping, and other basic actions fall into the first category. Playing a piano, painting, writing, and other acquired skills fall into the second category. However as with most things there is an exception to the rule. According to Gladwell, after an individual reaches 10,000 hours of practice in their craft, it becomes as natural as anything in the first category.
Jed finished his speech with a challenge to the staff to find their 10,000 hours and work diligently to complete them. What are your 10,000 hours?
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