The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything ... Fast 

If something characterizes our day to day is the lack of time. Between the time we spend at work, transportation time, bedtime, food preparation, household chores, childcare, etc. We don't have much time left to devote to learning other things. But, surely you have considered learning new things but have not addressed the task due to lack of time. Today we present a revolutionary method for you to learn anything in just 20 hours!

In the next TED talk, Josh Kaufman explains four steps to develop a new skill in just 20 hours. Something that he learned out of necessity, since according to him, fatherhood does not leave him free time. It does not pretend that we are experts in something, but that we are capable of doing it at a sufficiently good level. What would you like to learn?

* You can activate Spanish subtitles by clicking on the wheel on the bottom right and selecting the “Spanish” option in “Subtitles / CC”

What is Josh Kaufman's method based on? 

As stated in the portal El Definido, Josh Kaufam's method is based on 4 main premises:

1. Fragment the skill:

To learn a new skill, the first thing to do is determine what we need specifically to reach a good level, but without the need to be an expert. Each skill can be fragmented and divided into small skills, of those we should only focus on those that are strictly necessary and discard those that will not help us in our goal. The more we decompose the skills, the easier it will be to identify those we really need.

2. Learn enough to self-correct:
The following has to do with compiling information about the skill we want to develop. Here books, DVDs, research, web pages, courses, etc. come in. This learning has to be focused on the small skills that were detected in the previous point. It is not about spending hours and hours reading, but it is necessary to determine what is really necessary. This stage should not be used to delay the beginning of the practice. Kaufman points out that getting a lot of information can be used as a way of procrastinating that would delay the entire process. That is why we have to learn only enough to be able to practice and be able to detect when we are making mistakes and self-correct.

3. Remove barriers that do not allow us to practice:
At this point, all distractions that might threaten our purpose and deconcentrate us from practice should be eliminated. Therefore, during training moments, we must get away from television, internet, smartphones and all the things that are an obstacle when sitting down to work. The more will you have to get rid of the barriers that prevent you from practicing, the more possibilities there are that you can really do it.

4. Practice at least 20 hours:
Finally, although it sounds repetitive, you must complete the 20 hours of training. Kaufman points out that the hardest part of this is overcoming the frustration barrier. This is a limitation that we put ourselves. It is the phase in which we know that we are incompetent and useless in what we want to do and it is the most powerful reason that leads us to defect.
When we feel stupid doing something, we will most likely stop doing it. Surely, during the acquisition of a new skill, the first hours are this way. The important thing is not to give up and overcome this barrier. Josh Kaufman says that the biggest obstacle to learning something new is not intellectual, as many think, but it is emotional. Fear and frustration are the main enemies, so you have to overcome them to complete the 20 hours of practice and acquire that new skill you wanted.