The Beatles performed for years in obscure clubs in Hamburg, Germany before recording their first album.  Ludwig Van Beethoven practiced piano from the age of 2 to 21 until completing his first original symphony.  Bill Gates began programming his high school’s computers at 13 and continued until beginning his technological enterprise.

All of these legends have one pattern, one pivotal characteristic in common, their drive to be the best.  They also had another pattern in common, 10,000 hours of practice before becoming successful, 10,000 hours before reaching perfection.  While everyone has natural abilities, no one can reach perfection before 10,000 hours of practice.

In his book “Outliers”, Malcolm Gladwell explained in order to reach perfection in any field, music, academics and athletics, 10,000 hours of tears and frustration, 10,000 hours before reaching perfection.

While the average adult acquires 4,000 hours of practice in multiple areas, rarely does anyone ever reach 10,000 hours in one specific hobby or passion in their lifetime.  Our world has become consumed with competitions.  However, the importance of having a skill, a perfected skill, dwindles and swiftly becomes non-existent.  Society has lost the need for skill.  We have lost the drive to set ourselves apart.

However, skill can still be attained, with dedication, inspiration and 10,000 hours of practice.  As teenagers we are exposed to more free resources, supportive adults and inspiration than any adult.  Success doesn’t have to come five to ten years from now.  The Beatles are an icon to pop culture.  Beethoven is legend to classical music.  Bill Gates is an inspiration to the technological world.  All have a third thing in common, they began perfecting their passion while they were still teenagers, while they were still in high school.