OWL Magazine Korea

“10,000-Hour Rule” by Lee Sang-hoon

The “10,000-Hour Rule” is a concept commonly heard. It originated from a paper presented by Anders Ericsson, a professor at Florida State University, in 1993. This rule suggests that to become an expert in a particular field, one needs approximately 10,000 hours of training.

“The 10,000-Hour Rule”

Ultimately, the 10,000-Hour Rule emphasizes that while innate talent is important, “effort” is even more crucial. It underscores the idea that setting goals, persistently working towards them without giving up, and putting in continuous effort are essential to achieving success.

The 10,000-Hour Rule has even been published as a book, authored by Lee Sang-hoon, with the same title, “10,000-Hour Rule.”

“The 10,000-Hour Rule, Recently Fading Away”

There was a time when the importance of “effort” was strongly emphasized. However, after the rise of a “back in my day…” or “boomer” culture, parodying phrases like “effort is everything,” the concept of the 10,000-Hour Rule seems to have faded. Effort is now sometimes dismissed with the term “effortism,” aligning with a disdain for the older generation’s culture.

“10,000-Hour Silver?”

Online, there’s a playful term circulating as a parody: “10,000-Hour Silver.” This term humorously refers to instances where individuals have spent nearly 10,000 hours playing a game, such as League of Legends (LOL), and yet only achieved a relatively lower rank, like Silver. Notably, there are instances of users who have spent thousands of hours on games like LOL but still find themselves in lower tiers, sparking discussions and attention.

“Simply Spending a Long Time Doesn’t Guarantee Success.”

The essence of the 10,000-Hour Rule does not merely advocate spending a long time on something. While longevity is important, it highlights the necessity of first finding something you enjoy and are good at. Spending extensive time on something you dislike or struggle with does not guarantee success.

“Enjoyment, Proficiency, and Effort”

In essence, the 10,000-Hour Rule suggests that becoming an expert in a field requires time and effort, but that field should align with your interests and proficiency. The rule underscores the importance of enjoying what you do, being proficient at it, and consistently putting in effort.

“1,000 Hours of Beautiful Effort”

Despite recent trends that somewhat dismiss the importance of “effort” due to rebellion against the “boomer” culture, personally, I believe that the effort put into achieving one’s goals is something beautiful. While negative perceptions may arise due to instances of exploiting others’ efforts for personal gain through passion payments, self-driven effort and practice remain crucial.

“The 10,000-Hour Rule”

  • Author: Lee Sang-hoon
  • Release Date: February 25, 2010
  • ISBN13: 9788960862371
  • Yes24: Link