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The author's well-defended claim is that the core commonality between excellent performers is not general intelligence (IQ) or innate talent, but something he calls "Deliberate Practice," which is a particularly deeply focused practice that exhausts both mind and body, requiring extreme levels of commitment to maintain over the necessary period of years. It is an analysis of meta studies (a meta-meta study) of outstanding performance across fields ranging from musical performance (violin), to musical composition (Mozart) to chess, tennis, golf, business, and exceptional memory. Though the author dismisses the importance of "talent" and "IQ," he in-turn acknowledges, ponders, and ultimately confesses to lack an adequate answer for "where does the necessary extreme motivation come from." Wow. I've been picking up clues on this work in Marcus Buckingham's books and interviews.
wjk Colvin sets-out to answer the question "What does it take to be world class." The answer turns out to be hard work and dedication. This answer opens up a world of possibility for everyone, while at the same time limiting our excuses.
This book has shown me exactly why I have done betterthan I ever thought possible in some areas of my life and lagged embarrassingly behind my peers that have less talent and intelligence than me in other areas.The way you practice and train for success is THE KEY.This book shows you the practice recipe used by some of the most successfulpeople in history to go from ordinary to legendary.
Read this first, then pick up the rest of the books. You will not only be really surprised by the findings in this book, but you will also be inspired. Matter of fact, after reading this book, you might not need another book to get you jump started. I should have read this before all of my 20 self-help motivational, focus driven books. This books allows you to break down the myth of having talent.
Colvin has assembled a mammoth amount of research to show that those who succeed (barring physical or mental disabilities) can accomplish almost anything they seek to do. This is one of the best books I've read in a long time, and I will reread it on a regular basis. I'd heard about this book from a David Brooks column in the New York Times. This isn't some fluff book about "believe in yourself." It's backed up with facts, statistics, and pokes holes in some of the most famous "natural gift" stories we always hear about. I think this book would be a perfect gift for someone struggling with a goal they have or recent graduates. I'm so glad I did. Mr.
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