The Myth of Natural Talent: How Surgeons Master Their Craft and What That Can Teach You
Surgeons must master skill aquision before they can master surgery.
There are no naturally talented surgeons.
Throughout my decades in surgery, I have met many highly skilled professionals, but none of them achieved excellence through innate talent alone. Surgeons prefer to be acknowledged for the countless hours and deliberate practice contributing to their mastery.
What lessons can you take from surgeons to master any skill you pursue?
It Takes More Than 10,000 Hours
Malcolm Gladwell’s interpretation of deliberate practice oversimplifies the research, giving a false impression that 10,000 hours guarantees expertise.
Consider a typical surgical residency: it involves five years of clinical training. With just three weeks off annually and working 40 hours a week, you get 10,000 hours. However, most surgical trainees work double that weekly. Is it because they’re slow? Not at all.
Only focused, deliberate practice counts towards skill improvement. Just clocking hours won’t guarantee better skills. Malcolm Gladwell’s view that 10,000 hours of practice leads to expertise is a…
