Tag Archives: malcom gladwell

day 3K290: Putting In The Hours

“You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

We are not unaccustomed in putting in the hours to master a skill, a craft or a profession.  We’ve all heard Malcolm Gladwell’s theory of needing to put in 10,000 hours to master anything.  But, do we stop and think enough about what kind of hours need to be invested in others to obtain the deep and fruitful relationships we need in the workplace and in general life?  Research shows that it take about 90 hours to go from being an acquaintance to a good friend and then another 200 hours beyond that to become close enough to confide in each other.  To get to 200 hours that would mean working with someone side by side, all the time, for 5 weeks.  That can happen.  If once a week we have an interaction, that would mean 200 weeks for over 4 years.  That can happen too. I’ve had it happen in my own life inside and outside of work.  Over 20 years ago my friends John and Peter (a loyal PwK reader) and I started running together on Saturday mornings. We logged a lot of miles and hours.  We surpassed well over the 200 hours and it became true that while on the road we could talk about anything (and we have the rule “what’s on the road, stay’s on the road”).  The point here is that we can take many opportunities in life and turn them into lifelong friendships, if we are willing.

We also have to put in the hours to deepen our relationship with God.  The best thing here is that He is always available (He doesn’t keep Church of Office Hours) and His willingness to deepen the relationship is limitless. We just have to be willing to put in the hours.

Reference: Matthew 24:44 (New Living Translation)