10,000 Hours

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.  Colossians 3:23 GNT

Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers suggests that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert on any subject.  834 twelve-hour days, or 5 years at 40 hour per week, or 10 hours each week for the next 40 years. The time seems exhausting! (And yes, I know, Gladwell’s theory has been debated. Read on my friends to hear my take on this 10K marathon.)

I would love to know how to play the piano, love to become a certified yoga instructor, would love to do many, many more things with a high level of mastery, maybe even mountain climbing, but am terrified of heights -- so that is out!

10,000 hours seems like such a long time to, well you know, COMMIT!

But should this 10,000-hour rule stop you and I from reaching our full potential?  I think not.

Here is something I learned from my husband, John. (John look I’m writing about you, you are famous!) He is a woodworker and he taught me the 15 to 20-minute rule. What’s that you say, only 15 or 20 minutes for what??? The what is anything you have the passion to do. 

His working practice is that he will give a project often just 15 to 20-minutes, he seems to mentally set out with, “I’ll just get it measured out and marked”, or “Today, I’ll get that section glued up,“ and on and on, etc. Over time these minutes add up to a great deal of forward movement on his projects.  I began adopting his methods to my own creative work; the difference in my productivity was remarkable.

The second thing I noticed with the 15 to 20-minute work habit, is that toward the end of that time, especially if you are also being a parent and working full-time job, and, and, and… that beyond the 15 to 20-minutes you begin making critical errors. For him, it is when he has cut himself on those woodworking tools and screaming for help, for me as a quilter it is a seam that is just wrong and I spend even more time “unsewing”!

Here is the third thing I’ve noticed with all my work, whether it is writing, or painting, or sewing. My “zen”, my focus needs to be 100% on that task at hand for the level of craftsmanship I desire. Just as alluded to in Colossians, if our work is for earthly “humankind” glory then it is all for not, and I believe the work itself will not be as good.  

Here is the fourth thing that I’ll share on mastery. At some point you need to choose, your “what”. I’m now old enough to say yes, I’ve spent 10,000 hours doing jobs, mastering skill sets, but it is in my little “studio” room, in short 15 to 20-minute sessions that I am in a prayerful state, working contently, that I am a peace.  I feel that level of peace can only come from God.  I feel that I’ve found the “whats” in my life that I truly love to do. Do I still try new things, of course, but I know that mountain climbing should really not be one of them. But my whats, when I choose them, best fit my nature and curiosities.

I’ve said in these writings that I am not a theologian, I know I’m a passable artist, but no “Picasso”, that my writing is ok, but proofreading more than once is a must. Even though I’m not many things, I know that my God would want me to use my skills (talent and treasure) to their fullest.  All these things, even with 10,000 hours may make a dent compared to other creators out there, but that’s just fine.  I only hope that within my community I’m being the best version of myself that I possibly can be, all in service to my God.

1.      What is your “what”?

2.     How do you commit to that “what”?

3.     What do you think of the 15 to 20 minute rule?