I'm in the middle of reading the outstanding book by Geoff Colvin called "Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else".
Brief summary: "Why are certain people incredibly great at what they do? Most of us think we know the answer- but we're almost always wrong. That's important, because if we're wrong on this crucial question, then we have zero chance of getting significantly better at anything we care about."
So, what makes world-class performers so remarkable? Colvin presents a ton of research that shows natural, innate, "born-with" talent is just a fallacy. Also, it isn't simply "hard work" that elevates some above others. The short answer? Deliberate practice. (there are many details about what deliberate practice is and is not...post with details to come).
Granted, you need to have the physical qualities and mental cabilities to perform a certain task (ex: height to be a basketball player, right brain strength to be an artist).
From chess grand-masters to violin virtuosos, from General Electric's CEO to Tiger Woods, Colvin reviews how these remarkable people actually possess average IQ's and have done one thing to rise above the competition: practice with intention. A LOT of practice, with specific intentions.
Check back in the next post for a quick overview of how Tiger Woods and Mozart became so great at what they do.
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