I'm currently reading a book called Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, another one of his books that makes one stop and think. He talked about how successful people like Steve Job and Bill Gates and the Beatles had opportunities to hone their crafts from early ages, and that he figured it involved 10,000 hours of dedicated practice to get them to their level of proficiency. Other people say that figure is debatable, but there's little doubt that excellence in any talent or skill takes a lot of time to develop.
I did a presentation at a school function yesterday in front of three adults and one child. That's the first presentation I'd done in about a year, so I needed the practice or I start to get the jitters all over again when it comes to public speaking. The last presentation I'd done before that was at a reading conference at a college in front of over a hundred people. I try to be prepared whether it's speaking to one or one hundred, and I don't rank the success of any speaking engagement based on numbers. I ask God to bring whomever needs to hear the presentation, and trust that the message was meaningful and helpful to someone there.
I told my daughter it's part of the 10,000 hours. : ) I have no idea where I am when it comes to the total of time spent honing these skills, whether it's writing or speaking, but I know that for as long as I'll be doing either or both, I'll continue to learn and try to improve along the way.
My mother worked in a bank for many years, and she made it a point to learn whatever she could while she worked there. When she finished her responsibilities, she always helped someone else finish their work. By the time she retired from working there, she could do the work in any department in the bank. She multiplied her skills while she worked there.
Don't sit around and watch the clock when your work is done. Learn more than what your position requires. You become more marketable that way. You add new skills to your resume. Become indispensable and your boss and co-workers will definitely feel your absence when you're not there.
Keep learning. Keep Improving.
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