Very often, we associate the ability to be good at something with being talented… but what is talent, really? It turns out that there may be no such thing! Studies have shown that there is a direct statistical relationship between hours of practice and achievement, so let’s take a look at the 10,000 hour rule:

10,000 hours of practice
The 10,000 hour rule was derived from the theory that every expert in their particular field has put in at least 10,000 hours of serious dedicated practice to get to where they are. Malcolm Gladwell wrote a book on this subject entitled “Outliers”, and while the theory is controversial, it is actually quite logical. We’ve all heard the term: “practice makes perfect”, and even though the concept of perfection is somewhat abstract, adding up your hours of practice will surely get you closer to it.

“Talent” is not an excuse
Many people use the idea of talent – or lack thereof – as an excuse for something they struggle to do. It is also a simplified way of describing someone’s skill level, simultaneously disregarding the hard work and dedication that it took to get there. It’s easy to look at someone at the top of their profession and associate their success with some form of superpower, but in reality, anyone who is willing to put in the necessary hours of practice can become equally skilled.

Does talent exist?
In essence, talent does exist, but it all boils down to factors such as genetics and upbringing. Many things that we label with “talent” are things that we as humans were not originally meant to do, meaning that it comes from countless hours of focused practice, dedication and repetition. This is where the 10,000 hour rule comes in. No matter how talented someone is, they have nothing without dedication, and there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing results after working incredibly hard to get them.

So if you want to master an art such as learning how to sing or play an instrument, get in touch with the School of Popular Music in Guernsey today to get started on your 10,000 hours of practice.

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