The 10,000 hours rule states that if you practice a skill for 10,000 hours, you can become an expert… based on research by psychologist Anders Ericsson, who studied expert performance in various fields.
However simply spending 10,000 hours on an activity is not enough. Quality of practice, including focused, structured, and feedback-driven training, is what leads to expertise. Other elements like genetics, motivation, access to resources, and mentorship also influence expertise.
And here is when I talk about Meta-Learning (learn how to learn), Dunning-Kruger effect, and stop, so that this article keeps simple… and not boring!
Being a father since 2007 gave me the opportunity to apply some of these theories for the best of my son.
My first goal with my son’s education was to give him the ability to study in a good bilingual school… second, to teach him how to learn.
Because of the 10,000 hours theory, we’ve always had in mind that before spending energy on something, it’s important to find out if that is the right way. If something is wrong, practicing incorrectly makes us lose time!
and again… Because of all this, my son developed meta-learning very early in life, and showing him the advantages that knowledge gives us kept him very motivated in improving what he likes… from sports to academics, to friendships and family… However, when he gets to a stage that nothing new is coming, or the difficulty is imposed by non-smart tutors, he realizes that it will be more rewarding to take a new route than to hit the wall of “arm wrestling”.
So, my friends, becoming an expert isn’t just about how many hours we practice a skill. It’s more about the quality of our practice and how we learn. We need to be dedicated to become really good at something and know how to learn effectively.
Developing meta-learning skills is important—not just knowing what to learn but also learning in a smart way.
When we mix structured practice, motivation, and flexibility, we can become well-rounded people… just my two cents.