Have you ever wanted to learn a new skill but felt overwhelmed by the time, effort, or expertise required? In The First 20 Hours, Josh Kaufman challenges the belief that mastery requires thousands of hours of practice. Instead, he introduces a practical approach to rapid skill acquisition, showing how anyone can become proficient at a new skill with focused, deliberate practice during the first twenty hours.
In our discussion, we'll explore how learning professionals, HR practitioners, and leaders can apply these principles to accelerate their own development, build confidence in new areas, and create learning experiences that encourage continuous growth for others.
Not a reader? Don’t worry, all attendees can prepare for the discussion, by choosing their way to engage with the material:
ABOUT PAGES TO PRACTICE
Pages to Practice are informal discussions where we bring learning professionals together to move beyond just reading and into application.
Each session centers on a shared book, guided discussion, and practical exploration of how key ideas translated into behavior change, learning design, organizational impact, etc.
Participants engage with peers to share experiences, and practical takeaways they can use immediately. Every session concludes with intentional networking, pairing participants to deepen relationships and extend learning beyond the meeting. Come for the insights and discussion—leave with connections and action.
Participants will leave this session with:
- Apply principles from The First 20 Hours to design learning experiences that help employees build skills faster
- Identify common barriers that prevent learners from developing new capabilities and strategies to overcome them
- Explore how learning professionals can foster a culture of continuous learning, experimentation, and skill development
ABOUT THE FACILITATOR
Cody Messmore, Learning and Development Systems Manager, General Electric Credit Union
Cody Messmore has over 15 years of experience in learning and development with a focus on instructional design, program management, and professional development. Currently he is the L&D Systems Manager at General Electric Credit Union where he is the L&D Systems Manager at General Electric Credit Union where he supports the Learning Management System (LMS) as well as managing several learning initiatives across the business.
