People seek help from experts because of specific know-how that they themselves do not have.
A few days ago, my family and I were fortunate to attend a two-day-long charreada. It is an equestrian competitive event and demonstration similar to rodeo where multiple horsemen try their luck against each other on several different challenges. There were multiple roping and riding events where the expert participants, or charros, show their own as well as their horses’ skills in performance.
My brother-in-law was the host and one of the participants of the event. I was so mesmerized by the display that I asked him what it would take for me to, one day, be part of the competition. Along with his brothers, he has been immersed in the world of charreada or charrería since youngster. But that is more of a passion than a career – my brother-in-law is a high-profile attorney with several Fortune 500 firms as corporate clients, so charrería is not technically his profession. But by virtue of his life-long passion, he is definitely an expert.
His answer: “Start by staying seven days in a row with me and you will learn how to gallop on a horse.” My interpretation: “Seven days are only the first week towards ten thousand hours.”
I am referring to the ancient concept that it takes roughly ten thousand hours of practice to achieve mastery in any field. This concept was most recently explained by author Malcom Gladwell in his book Outliers. It can also be traced back to a paper written by Anders Ericsson, a professor at the University of Colorado, called The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance.
Ten thousand hours equates to roughly forty hours per week over five years. That means that by this time in 2021 I could find myself in the next charrería event. Only if my passion for systems consulting and teaching begins to wear off, then I could begin the ten-thousand-hour count towards that other mastery…
People hire us as professionals because they need specific expertise that they themselves do not have. Our core purpose is to enhance accounting and management information system processes for organizations by maximizing financial, operational, and technology solutions – we enable your success through technology. Living up to this responsibility as engaged experts is one of the most important components of trust.
…MARIO
