The First 20 Hours: A Fast-Track Approach to Learning Ukulele (Or Anything!)
Have you ever wanted to learn a new skill—like playing the ukulele—but felt overwhelmed by how long it might take?
You're not alone.
Research often tells us that it takes 10,000 hours to master something. But let’s be real—who has that kind of time?
The early stages of learning something new are usually the most frustrating. Whether it’s learning a new language, taking up photography, or strumming your first chord, that initial hump can feel discouraging. It’s far easier to scroll social media or binge-watch a show than to push through those beginner pains.
But what if you didn’t need 10,000 hours to get good?
In his TED Talk, author Josh Kaufman flips the script. He shares his personal experience of learning to play the ukulele—starting from scratch—and shows how just 20 hours of deliberate practice can take you from clueless to confident.
His method is simple but powerful:
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Break the skill down into manageable parts.
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Practice deliberately and consistently.
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Remove distractions and learning barriers.
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Focus on improvement—not perfection.
“By completing just 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice, you'll go from knowing absolutely nothing to performing noticeably well.” – Josh Kaufman
Kaufman puts this into action by learning everything from coding and yoga to playing the ukulele. And yes—you can watch him perform after his 20-hour learning sprint.
🎥 Watch the TED Talk: Josh Kaufman – The First 20 Hours
Whether you’re picking up a ukulele for the first time or tackling a totally new skill, this talk is the spark you didn’t know you needed.
So, what’s stopping you?
Start your first 20 hours today. Your future self will thank you.
