The '10,000-hour rule' we all know is wrong!
The Inconvenient Truth Behind the Myth of Fierce Effort

The '10,000-hour rule' states that anyone can become a top expert by investing 10,000 hours in something.
It gained support from many people with its hopeful message that anyone can succeed if they just work hard.
But what if we're misunderstanding the 10,000-hour rule? In fact, what the 10,000-hour rule emphasizes isn't effort, but the environment and opportunities that allow talent to blossom.
But now we are putting in all our effort, emphasizing only the '10,000 hours' of effort.


In his book, “The Betrayal of Effort,” Professor Kim Young-hoon of Yonsei University’s Department of Psychology questions the power of effort, which we have long believed to be the truth.
And we objectively examine the effectiveness of effort by analyzing scientific evidence on the impact of effort and talent on performance.
The author logically explains, from four perspectives, how hard work and talent contribute to success, and examines the meaning of this "belief in hard work" prevalent in our society.


Above all, it sharply analyzes the real reason why Korean society emphasizes only individual effort, and reveals the problems of a society that believes in effort and how it affects us.
Through this book, we will be able to reflect on how we should view the power of effort and how we should live in a society that worships effort.

It's sad, but in this world, there are 'those who work hard' and 'those who are good at it'.
There are countless friends at school or work who work hard but don't do well.
To be honest, most people are like that.
The reason why the phrase, "That friend works really hard" often sounds lonely and empty is because there is no "good job" following it.
People know from experience that there is a difference between working hard and doing well.
---From "Page 23, Can You Really Do Well If You Try Your Best?"

Westerners worked harder on follow-up tasks when they received feedback saying, "You did quite well!", while Easterners worked harder on follow-up tasks when they received feedback saying, "You did quite poorly!"
Why do Westerners work harder when they receive feedback like, "You did pretty poorly!" and harder when they receive feedback like, "You did pretty well!"? It's because they believe in and acknowledge innate talent, and don't place much trust in the ability to work hard.
---From "Page 28, 70 and 90 Point Subjects, What to Study"

How much does studying well have to do with effort? It might not be 100 percent, but it's probably at least 90 percent. Surprisingly, the answer is 4 percent.
This means that studying well and putting in effort have little to do with each other.
It is a mistake to think that we can study well by putting in our best effort.
It's just our belief.
---From "Page 100, Scientific Evidence on Effort and Talent"

What if it had nothing to do with survival and no special reason to do well? You'd never work hard.
Who would do their best at something they have no talent for?
People who can't sing won't sing, people who aren't talented at cooking won't cook unless there's a special reason, and people who aren't talented at sports won't exercise.
This is human nature.
---From "Page 111, Are Talent and Effort Completely Different?"

We investigated what percentage of cases resulted in high achievements because of hard work based on high talent.
The study results were 25 percent.
What does this figure mean? It means that only 25 percent of the reasons talented people achieve well are due to hard work built on their talent.
So what about the remaining 75 percent? Talented people have a 75 percent chance of achieving high performance without any effort.
---From "Page 133, If You Don't Work Hard, Your Talent Won't Shine"

If we define grit as integrity, Professor Angela Duckworth's problem becomes more difficult.
Because conscientiousness is a personality trait.
How does the concept of personality traits affect this debate? Personality refers to innate, genetic traits, and therefore, personality is a trait that doesn't change much.
How can we change our personality?
There is a saying that 'when a person changes, he dies', so it is almost impossible for a person's personality to change.
---From "Page 158, Is there a passionate persistence that transcends IQ, talent, and environment?"

None of the three reasons for being good at studying were chosen arbitrarily by the individual.
It is given regardless of the individual's will.
So rewards and punishments for success and failure may not be justified.
Our society emphasizes responsibility, rewarding those who succeed with money and fame, and punishing those who fail with appropriate punishment.
But it is questionable whether the reward and punishment are just.
---From "Page 206, Rewards and Punishments Based on Success or Failure: Is This a Natural Truth?"

From a political perspective of running a society and a country, a republic that believes in hard work is a very good society to run.
Because all the problems can be blamed on individuals.
It doesn't matter if you starve to death, can't find a job, have a limited number of good jobs, or have a low minimum wage.
Because it can all be attributed to individual responsibility.
Anyone can live well and have a good job if they work hard.
---From "Page 256, Our Views on Wealth and Effort and the Absence of Social Responsibility"

Our success is no different.
I just benefited from my innate talent and the environment I was given.
But in a republic that believes in hard work, all success is attributed to effort.
So proud and upright.
The progressive income tax policy is both frustrating and unfair.
I even wonder, 'Are people who earn a lot of money fools?'
I feel like the world is unfair and unjust.
But if we analyze it properly, the people who have benefited the most from an unjust world and environment are none other than the successful ones.

---From "Page 269, Your Success Has No Justification"