Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else“Excellent.”—The Wall Street Journal Since its publication ten years ago, businesspeople, investors, doctors, parents, students, athletes, and musicians at every level have adopted the maxims of Talent Is Overrated to get better at what they’re passionate about. Now this classic has been updated and revised with new research and takeaways to help anyone achieve even greater performance. Why are certain people so 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. Happily, the real source of great performance is no longer a mystery. Bringing together extensive scientific research, bestselling author Geoff Colvin shows where we go wrong and what actually makes world-class performers so remarkable. It isn’t specific, innate talent, nor is it plain old hard work. It’s a very specific type of work that anyone can do—but most people don’t. What’s more, the principles of great performance apply to virtually any activity that matters to you. Readers worldwide have been inspired by this book’s liberating message: You don’t need a one-in-a-million natural gift. Better performance, and maybe even world-class performance, is closer than you think. |
Contents
Two Talent Is Overrated | 19 |
Three How Smart Do You Have to Be? | 39 |
Four A Better Idea | 55 |
Five What Deliberate Practice Is and Isnt | 69 |
Seven Applying the Principles in Our Lives | 119 |
Eight Applying the Principles in Our Organizations | 141 |
Other editions - View all
Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from ... Geoff Colvin Limited preview - 2011 |
Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from ... Geoff Colvin No preview available - 2010 |
Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from ... Geoff Colvin No preview available - 2019 |
Common terms and phrases
ability Anders Ericsson apply average ball baseball become believe better Buffett career chapter chess players coaches companies concept creative decades deliberate practice digits domain employees evidence example excellent performers experience explain extrinsic motivators factors famous feedback field focused Garry Kasparov gift golf happen hard high achievement Howard Gardner Immelt important improve innate innovation intensive Jack Welch Jeff Immelt Jeffrey Immelt Jerry Rice kids knowledge looking managers memory mental model Mozart multiplier effect myelin Noel Tichy organizations parents person pianists play practice activities principles problem produce question recall Rice role seems shows significant skills someone specific Stanley Drucker story talent teacher tennis there's things Tiger Tiger Woods top performers top-level traits turn understand violinists Warren Buffett