Science has always told us that it gets harder to learn something when we get older. This often leads us to give up as soon as learning something new gets tough because we know that our age is a factor. In turn, we begin to regret all the things we didn’t learn when we were younger. But what if there was a way for you to still learn all the things you wanted to?
Whether it be playing an instrument or learning a different language, Josh Kaufman believes that there is a way for you to achieve your goals. All you need is 20 hours to acquire the skill you choose.
In this book summary readers will discover:
- How 20 hours of practice can change your life
- The ten principles of rapid skill acquisition
Key lesson one: How 20 hours of practice can change your life
Believing that you are old to learn a new skill is simply not true. Yes, you may find it difficult at first but if you persevere, you can achieve it. Even better though, if you employ a technique called rapid skill acquisition, you could learn most of what you need to in just 20 hours. As much as this will not make you an expert in the field, it will allow you to gain a fair amount of knowledge and become fairly good at it.
Rapid skill acquisition is about covering the basics. Consider a sport like golf, for example. If you practice for an hour every day for 20 days, you will definitely find an improvement in your skill level. Once you have completed these initial 20 hours you will feel more confident in your abilities maybe even play a round of golf with friends. It will also become easier to develop this skill further.
The first couple of hours of learning something new is always the hardest. This is why most people quit before they even really get into it. However, persistence is important. If you manage to stick it out for 20 hours you will realise that it is possible to reach a level of adequacy making further practise less daunting.
Key lesson two: The ten principles of rapid skill acquisition
There are ten basic principles when it comes to rapid skill acquisition. By following these ten principles, you will have no issue achieving your first 20 hours of practice.
- Choose a skill you really want to pursue
At any point in your life, there are numerous skills you wish you had. In fact, you probably have a mental note of them. But when it comes to rapid skill acquisition it is always best to choose the skill you desire most. In doing so, your motivation to learn is high. Kaufer did this when he first started off. He chose windsurfing as it was always something he wanted to do as he was passionate about watersports. This choice made him excited about the prospect of learning and had some nostalgic value to it because it was something he always wanted to pursue.
- Focus only on the chosen skill
The second principle states that you should only focus on one skill at a time. Do not think that just because you are dedicating 20 hours to something you can conquer multiple skills. No. This will not work. In fact, it will actually leave you less motivated and more likely to quit. Why? Well, focusing on more than one skill will delay your progress overall and let’s be honest – most of us do not have more than an hour or two a day to dedicate to learning a new skill. So, do not try to learn to play a musical instrument and learn a new language and a new sport. One skill at a time guarantees success with the rapid skill acquisition technique.
- Define what level of mastery you want to achieve
The third principle asks you to decide how proficient you want to be in your chosen skill. This is called your target performance level. It is a crucial step because if you visualize what level you wish to achieve, it will be easier for you to accomplish it. So, think about it. What would be the ideal level that you would like to reach? If you’re learning to play the guitar, would you like to learn a few songs or want to be able to play along with a band?
- Break down your desired skill into smaller components
The fourth principle asks you to break down what you want to learn into smaller components that will be easier to address. Starting something new can be intimidating, especially when you face the task in its entirety. Breaking it down further enables you to accomplish your skill faster and easier by making it more manageable. Kaufman, for example, wanted to lern how to play the ukulele. His approach was to first analyze the anatomy of the instrument, then tune it and then learn the chords for a specific song.
- Make sure you have all the tools you need
The fifth principle says that you should ensure that you have all the tools you need to learn your new skill. Although straightforward, it is important for your learning journey. You have to figure out what you will need before you start and this includes the environment you will be learning in. A ukulele is needed if you want to learn how to play and access is needed to an aircraft and instructor if you want to learn how to fly.
- Identify the barriers that might arise whilst you pursue your skill
The sixth principle is about thinking about what will hold you back from learning. It may be fear, self-doubt or maybe something more direct like distractions from your allocated practise time. If you do identify barriers, eliminate them before you begin so that you know your focus will not be broken. This will ensure that your practice sessions will run smoothly. Even the environment you will be learning in may be adapted to minimize distractions.
- Make time to practice
The seventh principle is about ensuring that you set aside time to practice. We often lead busy lives and carving out an hour or two a day can sometimes be difficult. However, you have to realize that learning your desired skill is also important. Therefore, instead of finding time, you must make it. A useful exercise is to eliminate another activity in your schedule that you do not particularly enjoy or that you know is not productive – like watching television.
- Obtain feedback about your progress
The eight principle states that you should obtain feedback regarding your progress. This will enable you to identify any weaknesses that you need to work on. You could have a coach, trainer or friend that you check in with regularly for feedback. Another good way to check your progress on your own is to use a voice recorder if you want to check your pronunciation when speaking a new language, or your music playing abilities. This will make it easier to spot any problems.
- Practice for short periods of time for the best results
The ninth principle asks that you practice for short periods of time. This is to ensure that you overcome that initial uphill battle. When people start something new, they usually overestimate the time they spend practising. It feels longer to them because it is initially difficult. It is suggested that you work in twenty-minute intervals. If you set a timer for twenty minutes, you can aim to do 3 to 5 of these sessions per day. You will find that working in this way is more motivating and you will actually progress quite quickly.
- Practice often and do not focus on perfection
The final principle of rapid skill acquisition is to focus on practising often and not on being perfect. You are a beginner, it will take a while before you reach the level that you want. The only way is to practice and to do so quickly. Quantity and speed is a way to guarantee that your remain focused and motivated. If you drag it out, there is a high probability of you becoming disengaged and then leaving it altogether. It will be difficult at first and you will make mistakes. Accept this and move on quickly. Do not dwell on your lack of skills because that is why you need to practise.
The key takeaway from The First 20 Hours is:
Learning a new skill can be daunting but, if you try rapid skill acquisition, you could learn your new skill easily in just 20 hours. The whole point of rapid skill acquisition is to keep you motivated by providing ways in which you can learn quickly. Thus, there is no time to get demotivated. There are ten principles of rapid skill acquisition and they are straightforward, simple to implement and easy to remember. Keep them in mind next time you want to learn something new.
How can I implement the lessons learned in The First 20 Hours:
Time is the biggest factor for most of us who want to learn something new. At first, if you are finding it difficult to make time to practice, try tracking your time for a few days. In this way, you can easily pinpoint what can be eliminated. In addition, during your newfound practice time also minimize your distractions. Block out the time on your calendar and put your phone away. Time is indeed precious, so try to make the best of it!
