Why IS Bill Gates so wealthy? Why were the Beatles such a huge success in the 1960’s? Why was Michael Jordan such a tremendous basketball player?

The answer is very simple. 10,000 plus hours. They put in 10,000 plus hours of preparation. Bill Gates, the geeky computer nerd spent 10,000 plus hours preparing for his passion and life ambition. The Beatles played in a sleazy little German bar every night, 7 hours a night for 3.9138943 years before they made it big. (And they played 7 nights a week with no vacation or nights off.) Michael Jordan spent hours after team practice shooting baskets. He shot 5 baskets from 5 points around the key and if he missed one shot he went back to the beginning and started all over again.

When people ask how long Norma and I have been preparing for our University of Street Smarts business, I always tell them, “…for a life time”. That is because we have spent in excess of 10,000 cultivating an expertise in sales and customer service.

Here is your swift kick in the butt challenge: Do you personally have 10.000 plus hours of preparation and commitment to what you do? Examine your 10,000 hours to excellence. Our guess is you might be a few hours short. Become a genuine student of what you are doing…or as they reference great athletes…become a real “gym rat”. Be a leader regardless of your position. Take the initiative and make it happen.

In your Running Shoe Monday Meeting, open up the discussion as to how you can build the 10,000 hours to success. Consider a company library of training books and tapes. Investigate classes either on line or within your community that will give your staff practice in what they do, how they do it and how they can become masters at their job and for the company. Promote an internal company campaign called, “10,000 hours to excellence”. It will also help you identify your long term dedicated and committed employees.