--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In order to be a world-class expert in…" description: "\"In order to be a world-class expert in anything, be it audiology, drama, music, art, gymnastics, whatever, one needs to have a minimum of 10,000 hours ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/daniel-levitin-2988_activity_in-order-to-be-a-world-class-expert-in-a_2488061.png" --- # In order to be a world-class expert in anything, be it… ![“In order to be a world-class expert in anything, be it audiology, drama, music, art, gymnastics, whatever, one needs to have a minimum of 10,000 hours of practice. Unfortunately, it doesn't mean that if you put in 10,000 hours that you will become an expert, but there aren't any cases where…” quote by Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/daniel-levitin-2988_activity_in-order-to-be-a-world-class-expert-in-a_2488061.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/daniel-levitin-2988_activity_in-order-to-be-a-world-class-expert-in-a_2488061.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/daniel-levitin-2988_activity_in-order-to-be-a-world-class-expert-in-a_2488061.png) > “In order to be a world-class expert in anything, be it audiology, drama, music, art, gymnastics, whatever, one needs to have a minimum of 10,000 hours of practice. Unfortunately, it doesn't mean that if you put in 10,000 hours that you will become an expert, but there aren't any cases where someone has achieved world-class mastery without it! So the time spent at the activity is indeed the most important and influential factor.” [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Extensive deliberate practice is essential for high-level skill, though not sufficient alone; other factors also matter. **In simple terms:** Practice is crucial but not the only key to mastery. Key Takeaway Invest time, but also seek feedback and varied experiences. Themes skill development deliberate practice expertise effort learning Mood determined realistic analytical Type advice motivational educational When to use this quote - sports training - musical instrument learning - academic research - artistic performance - professional development Key Concepts 10,000‑hour rule skill acquisition mastery practice quality Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure your practice is effective? - What other elements complement long practice hours? A Different Perspective Practice alone may not guarantee expertise without quality instruction and innate aptitude. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Expert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expert/) [Experts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experts/) [Gymnastics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gymnastics/) [Mastery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mastery/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“the “10,000 hour rule.” The rule states that ten thousand hours of practice is required to achieve the level of world class mastery in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moss/the-10-000-hour-rule-the-rule-states-that-ten-thousand-hours-of/) [Michael Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moss/) > [The emerging picture from such studies is that ten thousand hours of practice is required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/the-emerging-picture-from-such-studies-is-that-ten-thousand-hours-of/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [The right kind of practice is not a matter of hours. Practice should represent the utmost concentration of brain. It is better to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-auer/the-right-kind-of-practice-is-not-a-matter-of-hours-practice-should/) [Leopold Auer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-auer/) > [Ten thousand hours is equivalent to roughly three hours a day, or 20 hours a week, of practice over 10 years... No one has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/ten-thousand-hours-is-equivalent-to-roughly-three-hours-a-day-or-20/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Manhood is patience. Mastery is nine time patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/manhood-is-patience-mastery-is-nine-time-patience/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [One of the bigger misconceptions of learning is that many skills take a lifetime to get world-class at, or 10,000 hours to become world-class at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-bigger-misconceptions-of-learning-is-that-many-skills-take/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It is possible to become world-class, enter the top 5% of performers in the world, in almost any subject within 6-12 months, or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/it-is-possible-to-become-world-class-enter-the-top-5-of-performers-in/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [It is not the hours of practice that matter...it's what you put into the hours that counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/it-is-not-the-hours-of-practice-that-matter-it-s-what-you-put-into/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [I was never afraid of getting up early and practice for many hours. I often go to practice very early during winter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-wawrinka/i-was-never-afraid-of-getting-up-early-and-practice-for-many-hours-i/) [Stan Wawrinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-wawrinka/) > [It takes about 6 hours of practice a day for quite a few years to become a professional juggler. I started when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-raz/it-takes-about-6-hours-of-practice-a-day-for-quite-a-few-years-to/) [Jeff Raz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-raz/) > [I grew up playing the guitar. I started when I was nine, and by the time I was nine and a half or ten,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pass/i-grew-up-playing-the-guitar-i-started-when-i-was-nine-and-by-the/) [Joe Pass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pass/) > [Big-time college ball is a business, and they work you to death. You're in the gym at 7 A. M., got classes all morning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrann-mathieu/big-time-college-ball-is-a-business-and-they-work-you-to-death-you-re/) [Tyrann Mathieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrann-mathieu/) > [A couple of hours of practice is worth ten sloppy rounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-didrikson-zaharias/a-couple-of-hours-of-practice-is-worth-ten-sloppy-rounds/) [Babe Didrikson Zaharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-didrikson-zaharias/) > [“When you watch an accomplished professional in any field, you are looking at innumerable hours of practice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/when-you-watch-an-accomplished-professional-in-any-field-you-are/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [When I was young, I liked to spend hours and hours on the practice court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-wawrinka/when-i-was-young-i-liked-to-spend-hours-and-hours-on-the-practice/) [Stan Wawrinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-wawrinka/) ## More by Daniel Levitin > [What music is better able to do than language is to represent the complexity of human emotional states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/what-music-is-better-able-to-do-than-language-is-to-represent-the/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Procrastination comes in two types. Some of us procrastinate in order to pursue restful activities - spending time in bed, watching TV - while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/procrastination-comes-in-two-types-some-of-us-procrastinate-in-order/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [In a country that was still racially segregated and prejudiced, music was among the first domains in which African-Americans thrived alongside whites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/in-a-country-that-was-still-racially-segregated-and-prejudiced-music/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Because our ancestors lived in social groups that changed slowly, because they encountered the same people throughout their lives, they could keep almost every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/because-our-ancestors-lived-in-social-groups-that-changed-slowly/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Because you've been exposed to Western tonal music, you know after a certain chord sequence what the next possibilities are. Your brain has compiled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/because-you-ve-been-exposed-to-western-tonal-music-you-know-after-a/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [People who organize their time in a way that allows them to focus are not only going to get more done, but they'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/people-who-organize-their-time-in-a-way-that-allows-them-to-focus-are/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [I have never seen a proton or electron spinning around it. I have never actually seen a chromosome. I trust that they exist because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/i-have-never-seen-a-proton-or-electron-spinning-around-it-i-have/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [If you're studying from a book and trying to listen in on a conversation at the same time, those are two separate projects, each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/if-you-re-studying-from-a-book-and-trying-to-listen-in-on-a/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [President Trump, when challenged on facts, says that many people feel the way he does. But feelings should not take the place of reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/president-trump-when-challenged-on-facts-says-that-many-people-feel/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Our species uses music and dance to express various feelings: love, joy, comfort, ceremony, knowledge, and friendship. And each one is distinct and widely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/our-species-uses-music-and-dance-to-express-various-feelings-love-joy/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [The first forms of writing emerged not for art, literature, or love, not for spiritual or liturgical purposes, but for business--all literature could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/the-first-forms-of-writing-emerged-not-for-art-literature-or-love-not/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [When you're at work, be fully at work. And let your leisure time be what it's meant to be - restorative and fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/when-you-re-at-work-be-fully-at-work-and-let-your-leisure-time-be/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [The obvious rule of efficiency is you don't want to spend more time organizing than it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/the-obvious-rule-of-efficiency-is-you-don-t-want-to-spend-more-time/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [When it comes to snowing people, one effective technique is to get a whole bunch of verifiable facts right and then add one or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/when-it-comes-to-snowing-people-one-effective-technique-is-to-get-a/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [The human brain long ago evolved a mechanism for rewarding us when we encountered new information: a little shot of dopamine in the brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/the-human-brain-long-ago-evolved-a-mechanism-for-rewarding-us-when-we/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) [Explore all 143 Daniel Levitin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) Gero Miesenbock > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In order to be a world-class expert in anything, be it audiology, drama, music, art, gymnastics, whatever, one needs to have a minimum of 10,000 hours of practice. Unfortunately, it doesn't mean that if you put in 10,000 hours that you will become an expert, but there aren't any cases where someone has achieved world-class mastery without it! So the time spent at the activity is indeed the most important and influential factor.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daniel Levitin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/in-order-to-be-a-world-class-expert-in-anything-be-it-audiology-drama/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Activity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/in-order-to-be-a-world-class-expert-in-anything-be-it-audiology-drama/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/daniel-levitin-2988_activity_in-order-to-be-a-world-class-expert-in-a_2488061.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/daniel-levitin-2988_activity_in-order-to-be-a-world-class-expert-in-a_2488061.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/daniel-levitin-2988_activity_in-order-to-be-a-world-class-expert-in-a_2488061.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In order to be a world-class expert in anything, be it audiology, drama, music, art, gymnastics, whatever…” — Daniel Levitin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Daniel Levitin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In order to be a world-class...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/in-order-to-be-a-world-class-expert-in-anything-be-it-audiology-drama/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/in-order-to-be-a-world-class-expert-in-anything-be-it-audiology-drama/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```