10, 000 hours in learning is Malcom Gladwell’s rule for achieving true expertise in any skill. Based on research that practice is the essence of achieving genius, this number was set. Walking 10,000 steps a day can help reducing the risk of common health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, blood pressure and of course depression and obesity too. Again, the number 10,000! Unfortunately, Edward Deming, our Sadhguru of Quality advocated us to eliminate numeric goals!

Is it not funny to know that the Japanese character for number 10,000 appearing like a person walking (万) is the reason behind the target of 10,000 daily steps? A clever marketing campaign ahead of 1964 Tokyo Olympics made 万 popular, the idea caught on and the number got struck. Priyanka Runwal refers to recent study in National geographic article published on January 3,2023 indicating that short bursts of vigorous activity every day – climbing stairs, carrying a heavy load of groceries, or stepping up the pace of housework – can provide substantial health benefits. University of Sydney exercise scientist Emmanuel found that three one-minute bursts of intense physical activity every day can lower a person’s risk of death by up to 40%. Should we spend 3 minutes or over 100 minutes for 10,000 steps in a day?

Can you become an expert by doing the same task or read the same book for 10,000 hours? What is the sanctity of 10,000 hours goal for learning to master any skill? In his book ‘Into the Impossible,’ Brian Keating asks, “while learning to fly an airplane, can logging 10,000 hours in the same plane in same weather conditions, in same take off & landing runways make one expert pilot?” While the variation matters, Is the number same for everyone regardless of innate aptitude? He later clarifies that the number is a statistical average – within the group of talented people what separate the best from the mean is that 10,000 hours of effort! The spirit behind the number 10,000 is getting into the talent pool either by nature or nurture and then boil for hours in varying vessels to get distilled as an expert!

 When Deming said, “eliminate numerical goals, numerical quotas and management by objectives,” he meant, “provide required resources and leadership to achieve goals than shouting a number.” We can interpret it as the difference between an ‘arbitrary number’ and number backed by some science, possibly data science for management insights. On an individual basis, we can see it as difference between goals we set for ourselves and numerical goals others impose upon us.

Tamil Nadu in India has the highest number of Ramsar sites in India. Last weekend I was at Karaivetti Bird Sanctury, one among them. Neither I could clock 10,000 steps on that day nor able to identify all species, maybe I will have to clock many more hours of bird watching to reach the 10,000 hours goal! At the end of the day, I felt good being one of the first few to visit the latest Ramsar site declared on January 31, 2024.

Arbitrarily some numbers become popular periodically. Tendencies make us to go with the trends. Should we fall trap for ‘feel good metrics’ by ignoring facts behind and feel bad later? Measure what matters.