Hello fellow students. So after taking an incredibly long train ride I finally finished reading some Malcolm Gladwell and was particularly interested on what it takes to become talented. So I thought I could share my insights with you.
Unfortunately for most of us, the news is a little depressing.
How to become Talented
Gladwell says there are in general two main components to becoming talented. He states that to become a master at anything you must apply approximately 10,000 hours to it. That means if you spent six hours a day on the violin each day every day, you’d become a master in a little under 5 years. This is a depressing concept in itself but you didn’t even hear the worst part!
The Components of Talent
Becoming a master at something also requires a large amount of luck. Having the right parents, being placed in the right school, reading the right books, hanging with the right crowd etc, all add to whether you will make that magical 10,000th hour and truly become a master at something. A silver lining to all this is what makes masters different from regular people. The making of a master is not necessarily natural talent but the ability to stay committed to a goal.
How This Will Help Students
So how is this information going to help you? Well we now know we need two things, commitment and a network for success. In the VTA Method I talk about accountability systems. Which I define as the technology, people and personal insights you need in order to hold yourself accountable for academic success. Through using the VTA Method and by utilizing one of my online tutors you will inevitably achieve success if you remain committed. But what if you’re not ready to make that investment? Here are some tips to become a master student:
- Make a clear outline of what success is to you. Outline what you want to do and then figure out how many steps it will take to get there. Make a list of 3-5 points and take action IMMEDIATELY on the first step.
As an example, here is a microcosm of my own personal success model:
Success: Gettting an A on my poli sci paper.
Step 1: Go do some initial research on the subject and get the top three sources on your particular subject. Spend a half hour on each source trying to understand the main concepts that each author is trying to discern. If you can’t do it in half an hour, go check out my article on critical thinking.
Step 2: Talk to my prof and ask him/her what the best way to get an A would be. Also present a brief outline and ask for insights on how to turn your outline into an A paper. Special note: Don’t ask about how to turn your outline into a good paper, ask how to turn your outline into an A paper – remember your goal.
Step 3: Implement the four stages of the paper writing with the information that you got from your prof. Research, Brainstorm, Write, and Edit.
Step 4: Return to your prof and ask him/her to go over the paper for you and suggest changes that will result in an A.
- Get a study buddy. Get a study buddy, preferably for each class you’re in. Your study buddy should also not be a social friend if you can help it. This is the second best way to stay accountable, the best being your own tutor.
- Make a study time each day that you MUST be accountable to. Just like brushing your teeth or going to the gym. By having a study time each day you’ll be able automatically logging time towards your 10,000 hour goal.
How many of you have spent 10,000 hours at something? (and watching TV, sleeping and eating doesn’t count). Do you think you can achieve mastery in shorter amounts of time or do you think he’s right? Do you think it’s even worth it to achieve mastery? Please comment below.
As always, check out my online tutoring program if you haven’t already.
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awesome video, thx for sharing
also the 10 college blogs video is good!