https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MgBikgcWnY

For busy professionals who have commitments and yet have a strong desire to learn new skills,
Josh Kaufman in his presentation at Ted suggests that you can learn any new skills in just 20 hours.

He argues that the famous 10,000 hours learning rules is required only for the top
percentile expertise level of skill development.

This is how Josh suggests we acheive the 20 hour learning rule:

1) Deconstruct the skill
-Most skills as we know them are actually a complex bundle of skills.
-Decide what exactly you want to do and then break it down further to get the exact skills you want

2) Learn enough to self correct
-for example get some 3 to 5 learning resources on what you're trying to acheive
-such resources give you alternative views that help you correct your mistakes

3) Remove barrier to practice
-For example take away the televisions e.t.c, and focus on the task at hand

4) Practice at least 20 hrs
-start practicing for at least 20 hours. you might get frustrated at first,
but after pushing past the frustration barrier, you'd be able to learn your new skill.

Although I am yet to test this, especially the 20 hours timing however, i'd like to share a personal learning experience that seems to support Josh's theory

For a long time, i wanted to learn SSIS, i thus did a lot of research, video learning etc and was heading no where.
I soon decided to downoad SQL server with BIDS on my laptop. This had SSIS

I then chose to have a goal that is what i might come accross in the work environment
i.e inport data from sql sever to excel, and export data from multiple excel files to sql server

When i defined my learning in this way, it was much easier and faster to learn within a day
This was how I first learnt SSIS use in the work environment

When i discovered that it was easier for me to learn new skills by imagining a specific useful office related task,
i used the same strategy in learning SAS, SharePoint, Visio, MS Project and Qlickview

This is what Josh refers to as Deconstructing the Skill

mod front page pls

Hmmmm...interesting.

Good tips! Atleast I've derived a couple of things from this

POSTER WELL DONE. NICE POST. VERY USEFUL.

i really need help cos i really love learning NEW skills but i find it very difficult to read for a long time

WHAT DO I DO IN DIS SITUATION OF MINE

Interesting...

brb

Ok wonderful write up but hw do i learn to play a GUITAR in 20hours

going to try this out










and be expecting my feedback

garripack: i really need help cos i really love learning NEW skills but i find it very difficult to read for a long time

WHAT DO I DO IN DIS SITUATION OF MINE

Use rule 3 (Remove the barrier) What is that thing that puts you off reading? Think of the knowledge/skill you would gain from reading.

@OP, this is a great post. I have also learnt a thing from it.

Thanks

Wonderful!

Nice thread, so short and on point, thumbs up Op.

For me, designed a timetable like am in school, got me some videos, pdf and each day i go to somewhere to listen to the videos according to my timetable. This is really pushing me to learn backtrack, andriod and joomla. See all you at the top

@Op; nice write-up and educative...thumbs up!!!

I tink av gotten a new way to cram well b4 exam.

Interesting. But I'm not sure if this can actually apply to all skills.

garripack: i really need help cos i really love learning NEW skills but i find it very difficult to read for a long time

WHAT DO I DO IN DIS SITUATION OF MINE

.
In addition to this difficulty in reading, i observe that i easily fall asleep while reading and this has been a great source of distraction for me. I equally observe that i can rarely concentrate in a lecture for more than one hour without falling asleep. I know this could derail this thread, but i will be grateful to see an end to these challenges from here. Thanks.

if u really need it u will learn it in no time

Someone should tell me how I wil!l learn automechanic in 20 hours

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing.

Great post op....

Freezeman: Ok wonderful write up but hw do i learn to play a GUITAR in 20hours

Lobatan!
Dogged determination-cum-passion is key sha! Can't guarantee the 20 hour timeframe tho'

aduhube: Someone should tell me how I wil!l learn automechanic in 20 hours

Is it really possible ??
You must be a superhuman to achieve such feat

what is skill?

Dreal1247: .
In addition to this difficulty in reading, i observe that i easily fall asleep while reading and this has been a great source of distraction for me. I equally observe that i can rarely concentrate in a lecture for more than one hour without falling asleep. I know this could derail this thread, but i will be grateful to see an end to these challenges from here. Thanks.

Try writing short notes during lectures it wil keep you awake.

Great thinking actually...but it's oversimplified. Can you learn to fly an airplane in 20 hours from being a complete novice? I feel the guy has some products he's trying to market; for what he said may work with simple skills. But complex ones? Story!

#bizfirst#:
Great thinking actually...but it's oversimplified. Can you learn to fly an airplane in 20 hours from being a complete novice? I feel the guy has some products he's trying to market; for what he said may work with simple skills. But complex ones? Story!

is being a pilot a skill or a profession, and will u learn to fly a plane from books n videos alone? What Will u practice with? Try n understand something before u make a comment.

He's absolutely right.