Biznik Bookshelf: Talent Is Overrated

It takes a lot of practice to turn in a world-class performance. But all practice is not created equal. Geoff Colvin's book, Talented Is Overrated, reveals the kind of practice that makes for greatness.

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• talent
• practice
• small business
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[gobiznik]

@booeing2007 Here's how I applied it. Last week, I had to give a speech. I'm not a "talented speaker."

But having read this book, I realized that, well, talent is overrated. And the thing that stuck with me was that to improve, you need immediate feedback. So I used my flipcam to record myself giving the speech. I did that over and over again for three days, each time watching the footage to observe how I could make improvements. Guess what? It worked. I rocked it.

[gobiznik]

Some people do "seem" to be born with rhythm. But after reading this book I'm convinced that white guys really can dance - if they work at it.

[booeing2007]

Hey gobiznik,

how did you use what this book suggested in real life (I read this book for its pragmatic value)?

I read the book and felt that the book did not devote anything on HOW to 'deliberately practice.' They way I understood it, the book seems to advocate working on your weak areas. This goes against the common adage of 'working on your strengths'. Also, it seems that to deliberately practice one requires a certain level of self-awareness or a really good personal tutor. Do you agree?

[thepianoaddict]

there are some people who are better at things like playing the drums. some people find it hard to do and some find it easy but when you practice it gets easyer. we can all play drums but the one with tallent just learn it quicker because they find it a bit easyer so they like to do it because it's easy. But everyone can do it when they practice (they ar just laizy or have other stuff to do) (same for piano :-)

talent IS overrated!