The 20-Hour Method to Learn New Skills Quickly

Have you ever wished you could pick up a new skill without dedicating years of practice? Josh Kaufman’s TEDxCSU talk, “The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything,” changed the way I think about learning. It’s not about grinding for thousands of hours?—?it’s about focusing on what really matters. By breaking down skills into manageable steps, removing distractions, and committing just 20 hours of deliberate practice, you can make meaningful progress in almost anything.?

This article explores four simple concepts from Kaufman’s talk that can help you unlock your potential. Read on to see how you can start your journey today.

1. START SMALL, THINK?BIG

Maria’s Graphic Design Journey

Maria, a marketing professional, wanted to learn graphic design to enhance her campaigns.

Rather than enrolling in a comprehensive design program, she listed the specific skills she needed: creating social media posts, editing photos, and designing simple brochures. She decided to tackle photo editing first. “I’ll just learn how to adjust colors and crop images,” she told her colleague, John. Within a week, Maria was confidently editing campaign visuals. “Next up, I’ll learn layout design for brochures,” she said. By breaking her goal into bite-sized pieces, Maria quickly gained confidence and momentum.

Deconstruction

Deconstruction is the process of breaking down a skill into smaller, manageable parts. Most skills are actually combinations of smaller tasks or abilities. By identifying the key components that will give you the quickest results, you simplify the learning process and reduce overwhelm. This method helps you focus your energy on the parts of the skill that have the biggest impact, making progress faster and more achievable.

How To Do This?Today:

1. Define Your Goal: Identify your end goal and write it down in clear, measurable terms. Think about what success looks like and ensure it’s something achievable within your available time and resources.
2. Break It Down: List out the individual components or sub-skills required for your goal. Focus on the foundational steps that build toward the larger skill.
3. Focus on Essentials: Research which parts of the skill will give you the most significant results first. Prioritize areas that will make other aspects easier to learn.
4. Prioritize Results: Start with the components that yield visible improvements or are most frequently used. This will help you stay motivated by seeing progress quickly.
5. Acknowledge Progress: Celebrate every milestone, no matter how small. Use these wins to boost your confidence and sustain your motivation.

2. LEARN JUST ENOUGH TO?BEGIN

Jack’s First App

Jack wanted to start coding but felt overwhelmed by the abundance of programming resources.

A friend advised, “Pick one tutorial and stick to it until you can write a simple app.” Jack chose a beginner’s guide and built a basic calculator app after a few days. “I made mistakes, but fixing them taught me more than reading about syntax,” he shared during a group meetup. His friend replied, “See? Learning as you go works better than overpreparing.”

Just-in-Time Learning

When approaching a new skill, it’s easy to get lost in research and preparation. However, the best way to make progress is to start practicing as soon as you have the basics. Gathering just enough information to begin allows you to identify and correct mistakes early, which improves understanding and helps solidify knowledge. This approach also prevents overthinking and encourages a hands-on experience that fosters real mastery.

How To Do This?Today:

1. Start With One Resource: Select a single trusted guide, book, or tutorial that aligns with your learning goals. Avoid the temptation to gather too many resources at once.
2. Set a Practice Goal: Define a clear and achievable goal for each practice session, such as completing a specific exercise or project.
3. Embrace Mistakes: Recognize that errors are an essential part of learning. Reflect on what went wrong and make adjustments to improve.
4. Limit Passive Learning: Keep passive learning?—?like reading or watching tutorials?—?to a maximum of 30 minutes daily. Spend the majority of your time actively practicing.
5. Reflect on Progress: Take five minutes after each session to evaluate what you learned, what needs improvement, and how to adjust your approach for next time.

3. REMOVE WHAT’S HOLDING YOU?BACK

Susan’s Guitar Corner

Susan struggled to dedicate time to her guitar practice.

She realized her biggest distraction was the TV in her living room. One evening, she unplugged it and set up a small practice corner with her guitar and sheet music. “It’s amazing how much more I practice now that the TV isn’t tempting me,” she told her friend. “I’ve learned two songs in a week!”

Eliminate Distractions

Eliminating distractions and barriers to practice is about creating an environment that supports focus and consistency. It’s not just about removing physical distractions like a noisy TV or clutter?—?it’s also about addressing mental and emotional obstacles. These could include procrastination triggers or multitasking habits. Even small, deliberate changes can make a big difference, such as designating a quiet space for practice or setting clear boundaries with your time. By taking control of your environment, you make it easier to prioritize and sustain the habits that lead to progress.

How To Do This?Today:

1. Remove Distractions: Identify the things that pull your focus away from practice, such as social media or background noise, and take active steps to eliminate or minimize them.
2. Create a Practice Space: Set up an area that’s comfortable, well-lit, and free of interruptions, where you can consistently focus on your skill.
3. Stick to a Schedule: Establish a specific time each day for practice and treat it as a non-negotiable commitment.
4. Organize Your Tools: Arrange all the equipment, materials, or resources you need so they’re within easy reach, reducing friction before starting.
5. Use Focus Tools: Utilize tools like timers or focus apps to help you stay on track and avoid distractions during your sessions.

4. COMMIT TO THE?PRACTICE

Tom’s Public Speaking Plan

Tom, a sales manager, decided to improve his public speaking skills.

“I’ll practice one speech every evening for a month,” he declared. Initially, he stumbled over his words and felt awkward. By the second week, his confidence grew. At a team meeting, his colleague said, “Tom, that was the clearest presentation you’ve ever given.” Smiling, Tom thought, “The 20-hour rule really works.”

Push Through the Frustration Barrier

Overcoming the frustration barrier requires persistence and dedication. Learning anything new often comes with a phase where progress feels slow and mistakes are frequent. This stage can be discouraging, but it’s also where growth begins. By committing to at least 20 hours of focused practice, you give yourself the chance to push past this initial difficulty. It’s not about being perfect immediately but about showing up consistently and building confidence as you improve.

How To Do This?Today:

1. Commit to 20 Hours: Decide on a 20-hour total commitment to your chosen skill and break it down into daily, manageable sessions.
2. Divide Your Time: Create a schedule that fits your lifestyle, allotting a set amount of time each day for deliberate practice.
3. Track Your Progress: Keep a journal or use an app to record your daily efforts, progress, and any challenges you encounter.
4. Accept Frustration: Acknowledge that frustration is a natural part of learning and use it as a signal to push through and persist.
5. Celebrate Milestones: Reward yourself when you reach important milestones to maintain motivation and build a sense of accomplishment.

TYING THE CONCEPTS?TOGETHER

Learning something new doesn’t have to be a monumental task. By deconstructing skills, gathering just enough information to start, removing distractions, and committing to deliberate practice, you can master almost anything in just 20 hours. Inspired by Josh Kaufman’s “The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything,” these strategies can help you unlock your potential and achieve your goals. So, what’s stopping you? Take the first step today, and share your journey?—?you might just inspire someone else to start theirs.

Check out Josh Kaufman’s TEDxCSU talk?—?it’s worth it!?

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