In his book Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell asserts that it takes about ten thousand hours of practice to achieve mastery in a field. But practice has its limits. Naomi Karten explores other reasons that contribute to becoming an expert—whether at your job or in your golf game.

There are many possible signs that indicate it could be time to look for a new job. One of the major reasons is that you’re stuck in your current position with no opportunity to advance, or it could be that you lack passion or don't quite fit the culture. But read this story before you jump ship.

When plans go awry, it’s easy to slip into a blaming frame of mind. After all, if everyone else did what they were supposed to, the problem you’re now facing wouldn’t have happened. Instead, you should ask: Could there be a perfectly reasonable explanation for this situation? You might be surprised.