1/7/09

Ten Thousand Hours

My mantra for 2009 is "Ten Thousand Hours."  According to scientists -- and as reported by the prolific Malcolm Gladwell in his recent book Outliers -- it takes ten thousand hours of practice to truly master a discipline.  

You wanna be a master violinist: ten thousand hours.
You wanna be a master piano player: ten thousand hours.
You wanna be a master chef, a master accountant, a master mathematician, a master swimmer: ten thousand hours, ten thousand hours, ten thousand hours, ten thousand hours.

My goal: master networker.  Seeing that it my natural inclination to stay inside and avoid all contact with people I don't know, I will bank myself fifteen hours of networking over the course of my almost 44 years of life.  That means I only have 9,985 hours to go!

Now I've done a little math -- so you know I'm deadly serious -- and it turns out there are actually only 8,760 hours in a year.  Hmmm.  This might take a while.  Cause also I have a job and two unusually needy children who demand a lot of homework assistance.  Plus also a husband and an unusually needy dog.  Plus also I feel that it's important to exercise and to cook healthy meals for my unusually needy children.  And I'm one of those people who needs a lot of sleep.  Really, eight hours minimum.  Hmmm.

So here's what I'm thinking: I will network for one hour a day -- everyday -- and then I will be a master networker in 9,985 days, which translates into almost twenty seven and a half years!  At which time I will be a spry 70!  So it's totally worth it, and then, no doubt, I'll have so many contacts that my manuscript will avoid the slush pile and go straight to a fabulous agent's in box

That's my ten thousand hours: What's yours?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't your hours spent teaching play into networking? Me, I'm working on mastering the "spin" so here goes.... you have to be able to connect with your audience (there's a performance element involved here), know your subject matter and keep their attention. If you want to avoid a " junior high moment" override all attempts at those who would take pleasure in stumping you. This is invaluable practice for when you find yourself out in the world.
If you look at it like that, I'm sure you'll be able to shave off a decade or more. I'm here to help.

Cafe Observer said...

Before you begin on the road toward your first 10,000, I believe you should ck into alternatives methods.

If you're well on your way to your 10,000, then begin again on another discipline by trying Shortcuts, Tips, Time-Savers, Lists, and thinking Outta de Box rather than doing it de long way or the way they say it should be done.

I've long ago added you to my internet network.

Margaret said...

PA: Since I'm a adjunct I'm not really tied into the whole faculty scene. Of course, if I were a better networker I would have found a way to make that happen. You are very good at the spin. It will definitely not take you 27 years to master.

CO: Such nice words. And you are right. Maybe I should try to master thinking out of the box instead.

Anonymous said...

I've often found that people who say "thinking out of the box," aren't

Anonymous said...

AH: glad you said it instead of me.

Anonymous said...

Margaret, you write beautifully. Stay as far away from that box as you are; you have a lovely vision.

My word is minde. Minde me. Not often, but this time.

Cafe Observer said...

I didn't say it. I don't know who did.
I just wrote it.

But, I've learned if it's ever going to be, KB, it's usually up to me.

Margaret said...

Ah: I will mind you. Absolutely. I think CO just means that being a master networker might not be the only way to achieve my publishing goals. By the way, YOU are the one who writes beautifully.

Anonymous said...



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