Ten Thousand Hours

Fairly interesting information from Malcolm Gladwell in his book, Outliers.

• The majority of exceptional, National Hockey League players were born in the months of January, February, March. Kids born after the standard hockey league cut-off date of January 1st, are older, physically and mentally stronger and get a competitive advantage that builds and builds until it takes off like a rocket.
• Innate ability is complimented by the 10,000 hour rule: Bill Gates had the opportunity to program hour after hour at his summer camp because of a chance budgetary investment, the Beatles put in their "10,000 hours" in Hamburg Germany where they were required to play 8 hour sets each night, Bill Joy, co-founder of Sun Microsystems and writer of Java had the opportunity to put in his "10,000 hours" at University of Michigan on a time share computer.

Just as important as the 10,000 hours or work or 20 hours a week over ten years in order to hone your craft, it is equally important for the correct conditions to exist in order to facilitate the 10,000 hours. Bill Gates for example had access to computer time, the Beatles were single, young and in Hamburg, Bill Joy had access to a post punch-card computer.