Talent is Over-rated by Geoff Colvin

I. Deliberate Practice

1. activity designed specifically to improve performance, often with a teacher's help

2. it can be repeated a lot

3. feedback is continuously available

4. It's highly demanding mentally

5. it isn't much fun

Think of how a comedian puts together a 2 hour act. Bit by bit, in front of small crowds, over months and months.

II. Luck

III. Environment

Oddly, the effect of all this deliberate drudgery is the emergence of rapt attention, not falling asleep at the wheel.

QUESTION

Why does anyone put themselves through this drudgery??????

ANSWER

Rewards. Intrinsic and extrinsic rewards.

Creative people are focused on "How can I solve this problem?" rather than "What will solving this problem do for me?" Creative people are hooked on "flow." These are the intrinsic rewards.

Extrinsic rewards play a role too.

1. recognition that confirms competence

The prospect of being judged reduces creativity; personal feedback enhances it. Personal feedback needs to be:

1. constructive

2. non-threatening

3. work-focused rather than person-focused

People want to pursue exciting ideas and the intrinsic rewards that arise from that pursuit.

People will work most passionately and effectively on projects that they choose for themselves.

The Corporate world is set up to prevent this. You're told what you did wrong but not how to do better. Your specific personal traits (attitude, personality) are targeted in evaluations. Rewards come with more responsibilities but not more freedom.

The MULTIPLIER EFFECT

A small advantage may lead to a great advantage through numerous intermediate steps. For instance, a beginner's skills are modest and they can only tolerate a little deliberate practice. That small increase in deliberate practice leads to greater skills which then gives rise to more deliberate practice.