How to learn a new skill real quick

After reading this post, we’ll see:

• What is the 20 - hour rule

• How you can use it to learn really quickly.

TL; DR;

You can learn a new skill in 20 hours.

Josh Kaufman is the author of 3 bestselling books:

• The Personal MBA

• The first 20 hours.

• How to fight a Hydra.

You might have heard about the 10,000 hour rule.

According to Josh, the 10,000 hour rule applies only if you want to be an expert in your field.

But most of us do not want to be experts in everything. We only want to learn a new skill... Fast.

According to him, you can do this in not 10,000 hours, but in around 20 hours!

(that's like 45 minutes for a month - even with skipping some days!)

Surprised? Even I was.

But first, the learning curve.

See how it's real steep in the beginning (when we suck at the thing we're trying to learn)?

That's what we're going to focus on. Here is his 4 - step process to learn a new skill:

The 4 - steps.

Step 1: Deconstruct the skill.

• Decide your goal clearly.

• Then break the skill down into smaller pieces.

• Choose the most important pieces which will help you. You should focus on these few first (this is the crucial part).

  e.g. for learning the guitar, you have to learn many things.

  But did you know that most (pop) songs use just 4 chords?? C - G - Am - F?

Step 2: Learn enough to self - correct.

• Get 3- 5 resources to help learn - books, DVD, courses etc.

• BUT - don't use them to procrastinate (I'm guilty of this).

• Start practicing, get early feedback so you can correct mistakes.

This way your progress will be steep.

Step 3: Remove practice barriers.

• Phone, TV, internet.

• Design your environment for your practice.

  • e.g. keeping your guitar in plain sight.

  • So when it's time to practice, you practice.

  Pro tip: Use Implementation intentions.

  e.g., "I will [BEHAVIOR] at [TIME] in [LOCATION]".

  I’ve written more about it here.

Step 4: Practice for 20 hours.

• You will suck initially. You'll feel stupid. But you should overcome the "frustration barrier".

• Seth Godin calls this "the dip"

Pick you skill and use these techniques.

Practice for 20 hours.

Let me know how it goes.

That’s it!!

I hope this concept helps you become a learning machine . If you found this helpful, share with someone who will benefit.

Further reading:

• The first 20 hours -- how to learn anything | Josh Kaufman | TEDxCSU

P.S: Did you like this idea? Let me know. I personally respond to each mail.