The New Dan Plan: 10,000 Hours to Prove What’s Possible

A Moment of Audacity

NATIONWIDE - AUGUST 2025 - (USAnews.com) — In April 2024, Daniel walked onto a course shooting well into the 100s. He wasn’t a PGA pro, didn’t grow up on the fairways, and had no roadmap;  just a decision to devote 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to qualify for a professional tournament.

Within months and 200 hours into his journey, he went from struggling to break 100 to breaking 90 consistently. Along the way, thousands of golfers, athletes, and dreamers began following not because he was perfect, but because he was willing to show the raw, unfiltered reality of chasing something that seems impossible.

From Film to Fairways

Before golf, Daniel had already beaten the odds once. With no film school training, he broke into documentary filmmaking, earning three Emmy nominations and a win in five years. That journey proved two things: persistence matters more than pedigree, and storytelling can move people to believe in their own possibilities.

Now, those lessons fuel The New Dan Plan. Unlike instructors or pros, Daniel shares the journey in real time. Every swing, setback, and small victory becomes part of a larger story.

“I’m not competing against golfers. I’m competing against the idea that it’s too late or too hard to start over.”

Standing on Shoulders

Baghdasarian isn’t the first to take this path. In 2009, Dan McLaughlin launched the original Dan Plan - a mission to see if 10,000 hours of practice could turn a complete beginner into a professional golfer. McLaughlin dedicated more than 5,000 hours before injuries forced him to stop in 2017, despite having improved to a 2 handicap.

For Baghdasarian, that unfinished journey became a motivator:

“I just need to carry this over the line - for him, for myself. Otherwise it will eat me alive. It’s just something I have to do.”

The Discipline of 10,000 Hours

The New Dan Plan is a live test of an idea popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers: the theory that 10,000 hours of focused practice can lead to mastery. While often debated, the concept has influenced psychology, business, and athletics for over a decade.

Baghdasarian’s version puts the theory on public display. Within the first 200 hours, he advanced from breaking 100 to consistently breaking 90,  a leap that demands mental composure, technical refinement, and course management. Each phase is documented openly, making his progress transparent and relatable.

Transparency as Differentiator

In a digital landscape where most highlight only perfected results, The New Dan Plan stands apart by exposing the unpolished middle stages. Viewers see frustration, plateaus, and breakthrough rounds side by side.

That honesty builds credibility. Golfers recognize their own struggles in his mistakes. Parents relate to balancing ambition with raising four children. Professionals in other fields see the universal challenge of committing to something daunting later in life.

Storytelling in Real Time

Baghdasarian’s filmmaking background adds a unique layer. He understands narrative arcs and how to shape stories that keep audiences engaged over time. The New Dan Plan isn’t a polished instructional guide. It feels like a documentary unfolding live, with followers watching both skill and mindset develop.

The Emmy award is not just recognition of past success,  it’s proof of his ability to turn persistence into compelling stories, a skill now applied to golf.

Building a Community

Through platforms like Instagram, Baghdasarian shares updates that go beyond swing mechanics. He speaks about discipline, setbacks, and incremental victories. Followers don’t just watch; they participate by drawing parallels to their own challenges, whether athletic, professional, or personal.

The Larger Mission

The official goal is to qualify for a professional tournament. The deeper mission is broader: to challenge the idea that limits are fixed by age, background, or timing. Baghdasarian is proving that reinvention is possible through deliberate practice and persistence.

The question his audience is left with isn’t just whether he’ll succeed; it’s what personal challenge they might now be willing to attempt.

An Invitation to Possibility

The New Dan Plan is not just a golf story. It’s an experiment in discipline, resilience, and reinvention. Baghdasarian’s openness offers a model for anyone considering their own ambitious pursuit.

As he puts it:

“Greatness isn’t reserved for the chosen few; it’s built swing by swing, hour by hour.”

Follow the journey and join the conversation on Instagram:  The New Dan Plan on Instagram.