The 10,000 Hour Rule...Are U A CAT?

I first read in The Hindu about the 10,000 hours rule that is needed to become an expert. Later, when i was browsing new books at Oxford bookstore i again saw the 10,000 hour rule in the book Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.

Gladwell(author of Blink and Tipping point) claims that to become a world class player in your chosen field of work, you should have spent around 10,000 hours of diligent work. I assume the time is a sum of practice plus performance too.

Seems Galdwell's claim will solve to a little extent the fight of Merit vs Experience in corporate corners and government offices. Provided the old timers did diligent and consistent work, isn't it???

PS: I did not buy the book though i was tempted. I am yet to finish reading his complicated book "Blink". I could only take Blinks or scan his deep work ;)))