You may ask yourself why.  Well, it turns out that youth leagues in Canada organize kids by age, based on the calendar year. Children born in the first two months of the year are inevitably larger and more coordinated than teammates six to 10 months younger. So they get more ice time, more coaching, and more chances to excel from practice.

In the book Outliers, written by Malcolm Gladwell, it challenges common assumptions about high achievers as it builds a case for nurture over nature, attitude over aptitude.  His insistence that cultural heritage, timing, persistence, and an eye for the main chance are the determinants of success is sure to have readers considering their own destinies.

He also dismisses the notion that the “gifted child” who scores at the top of intelligence tests has advantages. Although some smarts are necessary, beyond a certain level they don’t help. What does matter, he says, is simply practice – 10,000 hours of it.  Gladwell repeatedly mentions the “10,000-Hour Rule”, claiming that the key to success in any field is, to a large extent, a matter of practicing a specific task for a total of around 10,000 hours.  He quotes neurologist Daniel Levitin, who says that scientific studies show that 10,000 hours are required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world-class expert — in anything.  .

The 10,000-hour rule undoubtedly applies to Lean. If you want and need to become outstanding at Lean thinking, or at least proficient at Lean, but you don’t have the time for 10,000 hours — or 20 hours a week for 10 years. What can you do?

Seize every educational, networking, and mentoring opportunity available.  Attend conferences, participate in educational webinars, and read expert books and articles like those in this blog.  While you can’t replace your own learning by tapping into the knowledge of people who have their 10,000 hours, you will reach a level of proficiency that otherwise would have taken years — or 10,000 hours — to gain.