ASK SCORE: Success = preparation + opportunity

I have always maintained that it takes 10 years of hard work to become an expert at something, so when I read Malcolm Galdwell's outstanding book "Outliers," I was pleased to see my opinions confirmed by research in the form of his "10,000-Hour Rule."

Gladwell found that 10,000 hours of dedicated work is the magic number for greatness, and furthermore, he found that it took 10 years to acquire those 10,000 hours of experience. Among others, Gladwell cites as examples: Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, and Bobby Fisher, the great chess master.

This seems to be rule No. 1 for the would-be entrepreneur:...