Talent is Overrated

[NoHall]

My piano teacher recommended a book to me: Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else. It wasn't until I got here that I got around to looking for it, and I ordered it from a local bookstore.

The young man who handed it to me asked, "Do you really believe that?" He seemed shocked when I answered that I really do believe it, which is why I ordered the book. I told him that in 30+ years of performing, I still have a hard time not arguing with people who tell me I'm talented. I perform well because I've been given the opportunities and resources to perform for a long time. I believe my only God-given talent (for which I'm grateful) is a lack of fear when I perform.

Anyhow, I'm about 1/4 of the way through the book and love it. The author (Geoff Colvin, Editor at Large, Fortune magazine) contends that great performers are those who know how to practice (whether it be piano, golf, or running a corporation) deliberately and work hard. He points out that just hard work doesn't always cut it--we all know workaholics who are not experts in their fields. Hard work must be deliberate.

He uses Mozart and Tiger Woods as examples. Both are known as prodigies in their fields. But Wolfgang Mozart's father, Leopold, was a noted musician and an expert on music pedagogy. Little Wolfy was reared in the home of the leading authority on teaching young children music. Likewise, Tiger Woods' father was a retiree who was also a teacher and had recently become an expert in golf. Both fathers knew how to teach their sons about efficient, deliberate practice.

Pretty cool stuff. The upshot is that if you or your child have the desire to do something, then do it. Very inspiring.

 

[Susan Horn]

You might enjoy Malcom Gladwell's recent book, Outliers. (He wrote The Tipping Point and Blink and was a TED Talks presenter in recent years ) I read it a few weeks ago, well DEVOURED it is more accurate to say. He came up with a handful of things that tend to come together when certain individuals or groups shine super bright -- practice was one of the big ones (10,000 hours being the magic number for mastery of just about anything), as well as opportunity. Other factors too. Really really interesting stuff!

 

[Susan Horn]

And we all know Einstein's most famous quote, right?

 

[TooFarTampa]

Thanks for the rec! I will pick that up, because I do like Geoff Colvin's magazine work and I loved loved loved Outliers. Actually, Tipping Point is one of my favorite books because it gave me a name for what I am (Maven, ie an information vaccuum/reflexive information spouter ). Outliers is great because it has made us think about the kinds of opportunities we should be giving our kids and how to help position them for success. Can't tell you how many times we have used "10,000 hours" in a sentence the past few months. Sully Sullenberger = perfect example of 10,000 hours!

 

[Rudyjohn]

Excellent thread! I may look for this book (and the others) for my son to read.

 

[Susan Horn]

Thanks for the rec! I will pick that up, because I do like Geoff Colvin's magazine work and I loved loved loved Outliers. Actually, Tipping Point is one of my favorite books because it gave me a name for what I am (Maven, ie an information vaccuum/reflexive information spouter ). Outliers is great because it has made us think about the kinds of opportunities we should be giving our kids and how to help position them for success. Can't tell you how many times we have used "10,000 hours" in a sentence the past few months. Sully Sullenberger = perfect example of 10,000 hours!

I loved Tipping Point too, but forget the word for what I mostly do -- fringe member of lots of groups, core member of none, always trying to cross pollinate the groups and bring people/groups together with some intersecting interests, who I think could synergise... (in permaculture I would be called an "edge spieces," LOL) Sometmes it works, sometimes not so much...

 

[Minnie]

Opportunity is a huge part. I think of the many inner city kids with lots of talent and the desire, but no opportunity. Truly sad.

If you want to see a truly inspirational video about a person with little opportunity trying to make a difference.

[ame="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/31434372#31434372"]msnbc.com Video Player[/ame]

 

[TooFarTampa]

I loved Tipping Point too, but forget the word for what I mostly do -- fringe member of lots of groups, core member of none, always trying to cross pollinate the groups and bring people/groups together with some intersecting interests, who I think could synergise... (in permaculture I would be called an "edge spieces," LOL) Sometmes it works, sometimes not so much...

You're a connector! Now if we want to make something happen we just need a salesman.

 

[TooFarTampa]

See how I couldn't resist posting that? Maven.

 

[scooterbug44]

Talent is one thing, but hard work/training goes a long way too.

Great talent w/o training won't get you as far as medium talent plus a lot of hard work IMO.

Of course, the silver bullet is great talent plus hard work and training - which is why we need to make sure every kid in America has access to the resources they need to get it!

Gawd only knows where I would have ended up w/o so many great teachers and parents who pushed me.