328. How To Be Awesome At The 100 Hour Rule

If you spend 18 minutes a day — focused on learning or practicing a skill, you will become better than 95% of the population at that skill.

 

That’s the 100 hour rule. 

It’s about consistency and this concept of small daily progress that compounds over time.

 

Jesse Itzler popularized this concept and it shows that you can become great at anything you’re willing to put 100 hours towards.  

 

You don’t need more time. You need more intention.

 

In this episode I’m pulling out so many of the highlighted sections from some of my favorite books to bring you a very full perspective podcast episode on this topic.

 

The 100 Hour Rule is your reminder that you already have what it takes. You just need to start — and keep showing up. 

 

 

This episode is your mini wake-up call — your invitation to finally get going on learning the skill that you’ve wanted to and get moving on your small and big and do it in a way that feels totally doable.

We’re breaking down the 100 Hour Rule with inspiration from:

• Jesse Itzler

• Josh Kaufman

• Chris Williamson

• Alex Hormozi

• Ed Mylett

• Steven Bartlett

Let’s talk about how to focus, what to prioritize, and how to finally follow through, even if your schedule is full and your motivation isn’t perfect.

 

Why It Works- 100 hours = manageable, realistic, and motivating.

Public speaking, playing piano, learning to use Canva, learn to cook, learn how to lift weights, learn how to meditate, learn to hike or mountain bike, learn to watercolor or speak French.  Become at expert at using points to travel to places you wouldn’t normally, work on learning & launching a business. 

 

 

 

---

What Is The 100 Hour Rule?

💬 Jesse Itzler:

“If you spend 18 minutes a day on any skill, in one year you’ll be in the top 5% in the world at that skill.”

• Most people quit because they think progress takes too long.

• But it’s not about hours in a day… it’s about consistency.

• The real magic is in the compounding effect of daily effort.

📌 18 minutes a day x 365 = 100+ hours a year

---

Josh Kaufman – Just 20 Hours to Get Good

Author of The First 20 Hours, Kaufman challenges the 10,000 hour myth by saying:

“You can go from knowing nothing to being pretty good in just 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice.”

How?

• Break the skill into sub-skills

• Learn enough to self-correct

• Remove distractions

• Commit to 1–2 hours a day for 10 days or 20 minutes a day for 2 months

🎯 You don’t need to master it. You just need to start enjoying it.

---

Alex Hormozi – Stack Skills That Multiply Your Value

“Becoming world-class at the intersection of skills is the cheat code.”

• You don’t have to be the best at one thing... be really good at a few.

• 100 hours on something like speaking, writing, or selling? Now you’re dangerous.

• Ask: What skill will give me disproportionate results?

---

Chris Williamson – Depth Beats Dabbling

Host of Modern Wisdom:

“The world rewards depth, not dabbling. Mastery is rare, and rare is valuable.”

• Attention spans are short, but attention is power.

• Being intentional for 18 minutes a day beats random YouTube rabbit holes.

• Ask: What’s something I could be known for in a year... if I committed now?

---

Ed Mylett – The Power of One More 

“You’re always one decision, one habit, one ‘more’ away from a totally different life.”

• Ed teaches that small, consistent actions compound faster than we think.

• Also references the “1 degree” concept… how a tiny shift in direction today leads to a totally different destination down the road.

• His belief: Build confidence by keeping promises to yourself, especially the small ones.

🎯 Make the promise: 18 minutes a day. Keep the promise. Watch the ripple effect.

---

Steven Bartlett – Identity Drives Discipline

Host of Diary of a CEO:

“You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

• Steven focuses on identity and structure:

  • Want to be a writer? Write.

  • Want to be fit? Move daily.

  • Want to be a leader? Lead yourself first.

• The 100 Hour Rule works because it reshapes your identity through repeated action.

💡 Ask: Who am I becoming with each session of focused effort?

---

Putting It Into Practice

Choose your focus:

• What skill or habit will elevate your life?

• Where can you apply 100 hours over the next 12 months?

Make it stick:

• Schedule 18 minutes daily

• Use habit stacking (tie it to something you already do)

• Keep a log or journal

• Reflect weekly: What changed? What’s easier now?

---

Journal Prompts

Ask yourself:

• What’s the one thing I’ll be proud I invested in a year from now?

• What excuse keeps stopping me…  and what’s my new story?

• What part of my identity will this 100-hour journey unlock?

---

Your Future Self Is Waiting

You don’t need more motivation — you need a system that you trust.

The 100 Hour Rule is your reminder that you already have what it takes. You just need to start… and keep showing up.

The compound effect of tiny, focused actions is real. So start small. Stay consistent. And let this be the year you build something remarkable… 18 minutes at a time.