Talent is Overrated — Bookreview

In these ultra competitive times the issue of high performance is paramount. Top performers in every field seem to be born with supernatural abilities and their achievements appear unreachable for the rest of us “mere mortals.” However, Geoff Colvin’s book “Talent is Overrated” begs to differ.

Using well known examples of “genius” Wolfgang Mozart, Tiger Woods and Benjamin Franklin the author establishes how deliberate practice under the tutelage of an accomplished mentor over years helped each of these “geniuses” achieve their much vaunted place in history.  Colvin’s theory is that Tiger Woods is not a talented overnight wonder at golf.  But that Tiger, developed a magnificent skill through proper mentoring and deliberate consistent practice to become a domain knowledge expert. He also reveals facts about how through consistent practice the brain structures of top achievers change to accentuate their skill. Dispelling the myth that high intelligence is essential for high achievement.

Colvin points to hours of deliberate practice – long hours spent working on the specific aspects of the task as opposed to general practice, as the key to high achievement. He emphasizes how this can be applied to our lives, personally and professionally and how organizations can adopt these same principles to improve their performance.

This 200-page book is a great inspiration piece! It will inspire to consider what you could achieve and to ask yourself … What skills or ability should I choose to develop? Who can I ask to mentor me? What will I begin to deliberately practice?