How to learn anything in 20 hours
Summary
TLDRThe script challenges the notion that mastering a new skill requires 10,000 hours, suggesting a more accessible approach. By focusing on the first 10% of learning, one can achieve a decent level of proficiency in just 20 hours. The speaker outlines four steps to facilitate this: deconstruct the skill, learn enough to self-correct, eliminate practice barriers, and commit to 20 hours of focused practice. This method aims to overcome the initial intimidation of learning and empower individuals to quickly gain rewarding skills.
Takeaways
- 🔍 The script discusses the common challenge of wanting to learn new skills but being deterred by the perceived complexity and time investment.
- 🕒 It mentions the '10,000-hour rule' for achieving expert-level performance, which is often cited as the amount of time required to master a skill.
- 🚀 The speaker introduces the concept that one can become 'decently good' at a new skill by investing just 20 hours, which is a fraction of the time needed for mastery.
- 📊 The script uses a visual metaphor of a progress bar to illustrate that learning the first 10% of a skill set can be achieved within the initial 20 hours of focused practice.
- 🎯 The importance of setting realistic goals is emphasized; most people do not aim to become professionals but rather to reach a level of competence sufficient for their needs.
- 📝 The speaker outlines a four-step process to learn a new skill in 20 hours: deconstruct the skill, learn enough to self-correct, eliminate practice barriers, and practice consistently for 20 hours.
- 🤔 Deconstruction of the skill involves understanding the purpose and end goal of learning, and focusing on the essential components that will help achieve that goal.
- 📚 Learning to self-correct involves acquiring enough knowledge to be able to practice effectively and make improvements without constant external guidance.
- 🚫 The concept of 'practice barriers' refers to the distractions that can hinder learning, such as phones, TVs, and computers, which should be set aside during the learning process.
- 🕒 The final step is to commit to practicing for at least 20 hours, emphasizing that consistency is key to making progress and overcoming the initial learning curve.
- 💪 The script concludes by encouraging the audience to overcome the mental barriers that prevent them from starting to learn new things, suggesting that a mere 20 hours of effort can significantly improve their abilities.
Q & A
What is the main idea discussed in the video script?
-The main idea is that learning a new skill to a decent level can be achieved within 20 hours of focused practice, rather than the often-cited 10,000 hours needed for expert-level performance.
Why does the script mention 10,000 hours as a significant figure?
-The 10,000 hours figure is significant because it is often cited as the amount of time required to achieve expert-level performance in a skill, which can be daunting and time-consuming for many people.
What is the purpose of the 20-hour rule mentioned in the script?
-The 20-hour rule is presented as a more accessible goal for people who want to learn a new skill to a level where they can reap rewards and be decently good at it, without committing to years of practice.
According to the script, why is the first 10% of learning a skill the fastest to acquire?
-The first 10% is the fastest to acquire because it represents the initial phase of learning where the most significant gains in skill are made, allowing a person to progress from unskilled to decently good.
What is the importance of deconstructing the skill when learning something new?
-Deconstructing the skill is important because it helps to identify the specific elements or outcomes of the skill that are necessary for the learner's goals, allowing them to focus their learning efforts efficiently.
Why is self-correction an essential part of the learning process described in the script?
-Self-correction is essential because it allows the learner to identify and correct mistakes during practice, which is crucial for effective learning and improvement without relying solely on external guidance.
What does the script suggest as a method to overcome distractions during the learning process?
-The script suggests eliminating distractions such as phones, TVs, and computers as part of creating a practice barrier, which helps to maintain focus and concentration during the learning process.
How does the script define the final step in learning a new skill within 20 hours?
-The final step is to practice consistently for at least 20 hours, emphasizing the importance of dedication and persistence in achieving the desired level of proficiency in the skill.
What is the role of the initial 20 hours of learning according to the script?
-The initial 20 hours of learning are crucial as they are when the most significant progress is made, setting the foundation for the learner to become decently good at the skill with minimal time investment.
What is the script's perspective on the biggest obstacle to learning new things?
-The script suggests that the biggest obstacle to learning new things is often ourselves, particularly the feeling of being overwhelmed or hopeless when starting something new.
How does the script encourage viewers to approach the process of learning a new skill?
-The script encourages viewers to approach learning with a mindset focused on the initial 20 hours of practice, emphasizing that this short-term commitment can lead to significant progress and overcome the initial barriers to learning.
Outlines
🕒 Overcoming the Barriers to Learning New Skills
The speaker addresses the common challenge of wanting to learn new skills but being deterred by the perceived complexity and time investment. They introduce the concept of the '10,000-hour rule' for achieving expert-level proficiency, which can be daunting. However, they argue that this rule applies to becoming a professional, not just learning a new skill. The speaker proposes a method to achieve a decent level of proficiency in just 20 hours, which is the initial 10% of the 10,000 hours. This approach is aimed at those who want to learn enough to be good, not necessarily to become masters. The speaker emphasizes that the first 20 hours of learning are the most efficient, and offers a four-step process to achieve this: deconstructing the skill, learning enough to self-correct, minimizing practice barriers, and committing to 20 hours of focused practice.
🚀 The Power of 20 Hours to Transform Beginners into Competent Performers
In this paragraph, the speaker encourages the audience to embrace the idea that with just 20 hours of dedicated practice, they can move from being completely unskilled to being reasonably competent in a new activity. Using the analogy of learning to play football to impress at a family gathering, the speaker illustrates how one does not need to become a professional like Messi but can achieve a level of skill sufficient for casual play in a much shorter time frame. The speaker reiterates the importance of the initial 20 hours of focused learning and practice, suggesting that this is the key to overcoming the initial hurdles and achieving a level of competence that can be rewarding and fulfilling.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Interest
💡Complicated
💡Dedication
💡Expert Level Performance
💡Decently Good
💡Deconstruct the Skills
💡Self-Correct
💡Practice Barrier
💡Consistency
💡Overwhelm
Highlights
Learning a new skill can be daunting due to the perception that it's a time-consuming process.
The 10,000-hour rule suggests it takes this amount of time to achieve expert level performance in a skill.
The first time learning something is the fastest, setting a foundation to become decently good at it.
The concept of learning 10% of a skill in 20 hours is introduced as an efficient way to gain proficiency quickly.
The 20-hour theory challenges the notion that mastering a skill requires years of dedication.
The importance of understanding the difference between becoming an expert and being decently good at a skill is emphasized.
A practical example of learning to play football to impress at a family gathering within a month is given.
The illustration of a progress bar from 0% to 100% to visualize the journey from beginner to expert.
The first 20 hours of learning are the most efficient, providing a significant boost in skill level.
Four steps are outlined to achieve quick learning: deconstruct the skill, learn to self-correct, practice with barriers, and commit to 20 hours of practice.
Deconstructing the skill involves identifying the end result and focusing on relevant parts to achieve it.
Learning enough to self-correct is crucial for effective practice and skill development.
Practicing with barriers helps to maintain focus and avoid distractions during the learning process.
Committing to at least 20 hours of consistent practice is key to achieving the desired skill level.
The psychological barrier of feeling overwhelmed when starting something new is acknowledged.
The speaker encourages overcoming the initial hurdle of feeling hopeless and emphasizes the ease of jumping over the '20-hour wall'.
A call to action for subscribers to support the channel and engage in the comments is made.
Transcripts
There must have been a lot of time that some things sparks your interest and you
wanted to learn it. But when you Google it on your phone, you found out that the process is
really complicated and time consuming. And as you know, who of us has that kind
of time? I mean, it requires so much time and dedication just to learn one skill.
And some of them even take years. The idea of needing years to just learn one thing
hooked me. I started researching and came across this guy who taught on TEDx. A guy
who is so passionate to learn new things, but because of his lifestyle, he can no longer have
enough time to learn. Here's what he found. It takes freakin 10000 hours to learn a new skill.
Yeah, that's 10000 hours. Like five years of a full time job. There is even a book about it. But,
I mean, there must be something wrong here. Because, like all of us, at one point in time,
learn something new. And it didn't take us five years. Right. Well, so, apparantly,
this 10000 hours is for expert level performance, which is like being a professional at something.
According to the research in the book, the first time you learn something,
you learn it the fastest. And by using this information you can
get from unskilled in something to decently good at it. And with this,
I bring to you how you can learn anything in 20 hours. Let me show you in a simple way. The bar
you see right now is a whole 10,000 hours at the end of which you become a professional.
But the first 10% of it, no matter where you start from,
you will learn that in 20 hours. Now, you may ask why only 10%? Because that's the
amount you're going to get from having no skills at it to become decently good at
it. That 10% is the fastest way for you to learn a skill. And actually, reap rewards
You must understand the difference because most of us, when we start to learn something
new out of the Internet, we are not thinking about becoming a grand master in it. Let me
give you an example. Let's say you have a family gathering at the end of this month
and you are going to play football with them, but you don't know how to play.
So you start learning it. Take a look at this bar. This bar shows
that at 0% is someone who has never played football. And then at 100%,
we have Messi who have at least put 10000 hours to become a professional football player. And
here is you at 0%. So what you want to become right now is not a professional football player.
Your goal is just to play good enough to impress your friends and family so
you don't have to spend 10000 hours or five years of your lifetime. You just
need to spend only 20 hours to learn 10% of it. You want to balance a ball on your
head? Sure. It takes 20 hours. You want to know how to hit a really nice goal?
Sure, it takes 20 hours. The point is that the first 20 hours you learn something. You
learn the most about it in the least amount of time. So the trick to learn is spending
those first 20 hours pinpointing things that you want to learn so you can actually reap
the rewards of your efforts. These are the four steps which will help you achieve this.
Number one, deconstruct the skills. You just need to ask yourself, Why are you learning
it? What is the end result that you hope to achieve? For instance, you need to learn maths,
but your purpose is just to do maths for Taxes Then you should learn parts of it
which will help you do your Taxes You don't have to learn entire maths or entire accounts.
All you need to know are some basic formulas and few elements. This brings
me to our next step. Learn enough to self-correct yourself. Choose whatever
resources you want. For those formulas and elements, it can be books, videos,
whatever. And just learn enough so you can self correct yourself while practicing. Don't
just keep reading the books and think you will learn the skill after you finish all the books.
Number three. Practice barrier. You must be familiar with this one. It just means that
your phone, TV computer is bothering your attentions and your capacity to make the
decision to actually learn. It just takes 20 hour and for that these things can be placed
aside. Now the final step practice at least 20 hours. Just 20 hours of practice and consistency.
You would be able to do your own Taxes and not just Taxes. No matter what you
want to learn. You only need to put 20 hours in it. You can learn a new language. You can
learn to draw only 20 hours. Just don't forget it. That the biggest thing that stops us from
learning new things is ourselves. It's the stupid feeling which we get when we start anything new.
And it's completely normal feeling hopeless in the beginning of a fire wall. Yeah,
of course anyone would be overwhelmed by it. But what about 20 hours wall? You can
easily jump over it. But all it takes is a little practice to get from being
awfully bad at something to decently good at it. All it takes is 20 hours.
Subscribe and help me grow. Like in comments.
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