Photo by Road Trip with Raj on Unsplash

Use the “1 Hour Rule” to

Catapult Yourself into the Top
1% of Income Earners.
#1. Don’t be cheap.

Hallel K.
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Practice in Public

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5 min read
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Feb 9, 2024
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I fell for it too.

I used to feel that my life was just too busy and chaotic; there was
too much going on and not enough time for learning or mastering
the topics I was interested in.

To become a true expert, I would need hours and hours of focused

study…maybe even 10,000 hours.

You know what happened when I was confronted with such insane
requirements for mastery?

I was crushed by a gnawing feeling of helplessness.

All my efforts felt like only tiny drops in a bucket.

I couldn’t imagine them taking me anywhere.

Giving up and doing nothing actually felt like a better use of my

time.
And then I came across a quote by Earl Nightingale:

“One hour per day of study in your chosen field is all

it takes. One hour per day of study will put you at the
top of your field within three years. Within five years
you’ll be a national authority. In seven years, you can
be one of the best people in the world at what you do
— Earl Nightingale”

I was skeptical.

Maybe this was true in Nightingale’s days — back in the 20th

century.

But how about today, when everyone and their mother has access to
e-books, audiobooks, podcasts, and expert lectures in their back
pocket?

Is it really true that all that I needed to climb to the top of my field
was an hour a day of reading?

If you read a book in your chosen field for one hour a day, that
would translate to 1 book per week. 1 book per week translates to
about 50 books per year — Brian Tracy

Data collected by YouGov in 2023 suggests that if you read more

than 50 books a year, you’d be in the top 1% of American adults.
Table: David H. Montgomery The Economist / YouGov | December 16–18,
2023

Still skeptical, I was tempted to go about poking into the statistical

validity and generalizability of this data.

But no more rabbit holes.

There’s certainly something here.

Even today, very few people are taking advantage of the

exploding volume of learning resources.

Even those who read books don’t do it with a specific end goal in
mind.
I agree; it IS possible.

It’s possible to become a global expert by focusing on reading about

a specific subject, one hour at a time, everyday.

But first, you need to set some systems in place to do it right.

In this article, I am going to share tips that will help you become
successful in your field by reading for only one hour a day.

1. Don’t be cheap about your education

One important decision all lifelong learners make is to invest in their
personal development.

And you won’t get broke if you do that wisely.

Let’s face it…even the most frugal people have their own “special”
something that they don’t mind splurging on.

“Yes, I know it’s expensive. But it’s, like, my comfort food!”

I am using this example to demonstrate that investing 3% of your

income into your education isn’t going to break the bank.

You can gradually build a library with quality resources and learn by
reading proactively.

So what do you do if you have a limited budget?

I use Thriftbooks (not an affiliate link) to help me meet my reading
goals.

With $20 to $30 a month, it’s possible to buy three or four

paperback books in fairly good condition on a WIDE range of
subjects.

Random search for books about writing on Thriftbooks.

If you’re being completely honest, you could probably spend more

than that.

Buying books shouldn’t be a luxury or a sacrifice. It’s for your own

personal growth.
2. Choose the right resources
Spoiler: Not all books are created equal.

Be diligent when researching on books you want to invest in.

Ask critical questions and seek out informed answers.

What are the top people in the field reading?

What are the experts writing?

I sometimes look for great book recommendations from Reddit, but

I would always, always supplement it with information from other
sources:

 Detailed book reviews and recommendations on Amazon

and Goodreads.

 Reading book blurbs and author bios. Author bios are

especially useful because they let you know the author’s
credibility.

 Expert recommendations (What are the top 10% in your

field reading?)

3. Commit to reading at the same time each day

Having a set time for an activity helps you find a daily rhythm.
It’s the best way I’ve found to keep my plans on track, honestly.

I have alarms and reminders for when it’s time to turn off all screens
and read, right before going to bed.

It takes literally no time to set up such systems, but the effects are
immensely positive.

4. Read proactively
I recommended a super easy exercise for reading manuals,
textbooks, or guides in a previous post.
50% of What You Learn at Age 20 May be Outdated by 30. Here’s a Plan to Stay
Ahead.
#1. Living = Learning
medium.com

It’s called proactive reading.

Instead of reading a book from start to finish, you can use this
method to tailor your reading to specific learning needs.

It’s very simple to implement:

1. Read the publisher’s summary/purpose of the book

before you buy the book.

2. Before you begin reading, scan the author’s profile or

credentials.
 3. Read the introduction, foreword, or preface.

4. Based on the introduction and the author’s profile, make a list

of 3 questions you hope to find answers to.

5. Head over to the index or table of contents and find the

section that answers your first question. Write notes.

6. Rinse and repeat till you have answers to all your questions.

This method helps you to cultivate intellectual curiosity before you

even get into a book.

As an added bonus, you maximize your reading time, in line with

your specific learning needs.

Most of life’s best hacks are the simplest ones.

How do you feel about being in the 99th percentile of all income
learners with just four simple tricks?

You’re all set to start that today.

Here a TL;DR that you can highlight for future reference:

 Set aside 3% of your income for your education,

 Choose resources effectively,

 Read at the same time everyday, and

 Read proactively.