5 Things to Know from "The first 20 hours - how to learn anything" by Josh Kaufman
- Noobneutron,11-July 2023 READ TIME: 2 mins 31 secs |
OVERVIEW
The main idea delivered in the transcript of the TED Talk "The First 20 Hours -How to learn anything" by Josh Kaufman is that it is possible to learn a new skill and become reasonably proficient in it by dedicating focused, deliberate practice for about 20 hours. Kaufman challenges the commonly held belief that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert in a field, explaining that this misconception originated from studies of expert-level performance and got misinterpreted over time. He presents a learning curve that shows rapid improvement in the early stages of learning, followed by a plateau, and suggests that by deconstructing the skill, learning enough to self-correct, removing barriers to practice, and committing to at least 20 hours of deliberate practice, one can achieve significant proficiency in a new skill. Kaufman uses his own experience of learning to play the ukulele as an example of applying these principles.
In the TED Talk, Josh Kaufman discusses several key points related to learning a new skill:
1. The 10,000-Hour Rule Misinterpretation: Kaufman addresses the misconception that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert in any field, explaining that this rule emerged from studies of expert-level performance in ultra-competitive fields. However, this rule got distorted and widely misunderstood, leading to the belief that it takes 10,000 hours to learn something new.
2. The Learning Curve: Kaufman presents the learning curve, which illustrates the process of skill acquisition. Initially, when starting a new skill, one may feel grossly incompetent. However, with focused practice, improvement happens rapidly, followed by a plateau where progress becomes more challenging and time-consuming.
3. The 20-Hour Rule: Kaufman introduces the concept that it takes approximately 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice to gain significant proficiency in a new skill. He emphasizes that this time commitment is achievable for most people and breaks down to about 45 minutes of practice per day for a month.
4. The Method of Learning: Kaufman provides a four-step method for efficient learning:
a. Deconstructing the Skill: Breaking down the skill into smaller, manageable parts to identify the most important elements to focus on during practice.
b. Learning Enough to Self-Correct: Acquiring enough knowledge and resources to practice effectively and make self-corrections during the learning process.
c. Removing Barriers to Practice: Eliminating distractions and creating a conducive environment that allows for uninterrupted practice.
d. Practicing for 20 Hours: Make a commitment to practice the skill for at least 20 hours to overcome the initial frustration barrier and experience tangible progress.
5. Personal Example: Kaufman shares his personal experience of learning to play the ukulele as an illustration of the 20-hour rule and the learning process. He highlights that with dedicated practice, even a complex skill like playing a musical instrument can be learned effectively within a relatively short time frame.
Overall, Kaufman's talk challenges the notion of lengthy learning periods and provides a practical framework for efficient skill acquisition, emphasizing the importance of focused practice and breaking down the learning process into manageable steps.
