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5 reviews for:
Talent is Overrated 2nd Edition: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else
Geoff Colvin
3.65 AVERAGE
5 reviews for:
Talent is Overrated 2nd Edition: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else
Geoff Colvin
3.65 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This book is very similar to Peak by Anders Ericsson that I read a couple of years ago and Ericsson’s research is referenced quite a lot throughout this book.
The premise of the book is debunking the belief that most people share when seeing someone at the top of their field e.g. an athlete, musician, actor, artist etc. The first instinct is to say or think “wow, they’re so talented”.
The thrust of the author’s assertion is that what we are witnessing is not talent but thousands of hours of bloody hard work. More specifically deliberate practice.
This is more than simply practicing what we can already do (guilty). Although this is safe, comfortable, fun and quite easy it doesn’t lead to progress.
At the other end of the scale, there are things that are demotivating because they are way too hard for our current level of our ability.
The secret sauce is to practice things that are just beyond our current ability. This is difficult, requires a lot of sustained effort and isn’t much fun so most people don’t do it consistently or for long enough so never achieve greatness.
The book has more of a business focus than I would like but there are lots of sports, music and art examples used to illustrate points and challenge our beliefs.
Saying someone is talented allows us off the hook psychologically as we can soothe ourselves with the notion, well I don’t have x talent so I can’t be like that person. Nearer the truth is that we all can be if we’re willing to put in the effort.
Clearly someone who is 200 cm tall and weighs 120kg is never going to be a jockey as someone born with a jockey’s build is never going to play in the NBA but biological constraints aside, we are all capable of so much more than we believe.
The premise of the book is debunking the belief that most people share when seeing someone at the top of their field e.g. an athlete, musician, actor, artist etc. The first instinct is to say or think “wow, they’re so talented”.
The thrust of the author’s assertion is that what we are witnessing is not talent but thousands of hours of bloody hard work. More specifically deliberate practice.
This is more than simply practicing what we can already do (guilty). Although this is safe, comfortable, fun and quite easy it doesn’t lead to progress.
At the other end of the scale, there are things that are demotivating because they are way too hard for our current level of our ability.
The secret sauce is to practice things that are just beyond our current ability. This is difficult, requires a lot of sustained effort and isn’t much fun so most people don’t do it consistently or for long enough so never achieve greatness.
The book has more of a business focus than I would like but there are lots of sports, music and art examples used to illustrate points and challenge our beliefs.
Saying someone is talented allows us off the hook psychologically as we can soothe ourselves with the notion, well I don’t have x talent so I can’t be like that person. Nearer the truth is that we all can be if we’re willing to put in the effort.
Clearly someone who is 200 cm tall and weighs 120kg is never going to be a jockey as someone born with a jockey’s build is never going to play in the NBA but biological constraints aside, we are all capable of so much more than we believe.
Review after a re-read in 2022: each chapter is just a bit too long, and the final chapters are quite weak. But the content is useful, and the writing is clear.
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
An important management book that tells you that deliberate practice is what makes successful people instead of talent. Talent is what you see on the forefront of all that hard work.
Recommended if you like corporate non fiction.
Recommended if you like corporate non fiction.