The First 20 Hours
by Josh Kaufman
Kaufman's method for rapid skill acquisition: deconstruct the skill, learn enough to self-correct, remove barriers, and practice deliberately for twenty hours. He demonstrates with yoga, programming, ukulele, windsurfing and Go. It is honest that twenty hours produces competence, not mastery, which is often all you need.
Read it if…
you keep saying you would like to learn something and never start.
Skip it if…
you want mastery; see Peak.
Three things you will actually use
- Define a target performance level first.
- Precommit to twenty hours before judging.
- Remove friction; have the tools out and ready.
Do this first
Pick one skill, deconstruct it into sub-skills, and schedule the first of twenty hours this week.
Our verdict
Practical and encouraging; good enough fast.
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