I recently finished listening to an audiobook by Geoff Colvin titled Talent is Overrated: what really separates world-class performers from everyone else. It’s a scientific look – a sometimes very dry scientific look for my taste – at what it takes for an individual to be a “rock star” in their chosen field. Colvin explores the worlds of music, chess, sports, and business for examples of his main thesis, namely that the notion that some people are “just born with it” is all wrong. Rather, the truly top performers in any area put in hours and hours of what Colvin calls deliberate practice and a steady stream of feedback from a mentor. Much like Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hour rule, Colvin eliminates the possibility of any shortcuts. So, it’s back to scales, journaling, acting class, and running shoes for me.
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