Comments on: How to be Great: Rising Above the Talent Myth http://litemind.com/talent-myth/ Exploring ways to use our minds efficiently. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:18:29 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: DigitalAngel http://litemind.com/talent-myth/#comment-40680 DigitalAngel Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:58:10 +0000 http://litemind.com/?p=61#comment-40680 wonderful post! Stumbled :) I really love the description of setting specific goals for your practice and think that could make practice so much more productive. @trmpter - awesome quote. I felt as though it summed up everything I liked about the article! wonderful post! Stumbled :) I really love the description of setting specific goals for your practice and think that could make practice so much more productive.

@trmpter – awesome quote. I felt as though it summed up everything I liked about the article!

]]> By: Rueben Carter http://litemind.com/talent-myth/#comment-33186 Rueben Carter Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:58:21 +0000 http://litemind.com/?p=61#comment-33186 Wow! This is an excellent article. It pretty much validates everything I already thought to be true about "talent" and hard work. Thank you for posting this! Wow! This is an excellent article. It pretty much validates everything I already thought to be true about “talent” and hard work. Thank you for posting this!

]]> By: shamelessacademic.com » Want to be great? Stop dreaming; start practicing. http://litemind.com/talent-myth/#comment-24744 shamelessacademic.com » Want to be great? Stop dreaming; start practicing. Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:07:44 +0000 http://litemind.com/?p=61#comment-24744 [...] you want to read about this idea, and some of the research behind it, start by reading How to be Great: Rising Above the Talent Myth (from Litemind). It’s the article that [most recently] got me thinking about this topic. That [...] [...] you want to read about this idea, and some of the research behind it, start by reading How to be Great: Rising Above the Talent Myth (from Litemind). It’s the article that [most recently] got me thinking about this topic. That [...]

]]> By: Peter Levin http://litemind.com/talent-myth/#comment-22760 Peter Levin Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:10:16 +0000 http://litemind.com/?p=61#comment-22760 Very good point. It is very important to understand that without practice nothing great can be possible. You really bring this point across nicely. BUT, in my opinion there is one very fundamental error in this article from which whole idea of this article vanish. You mentioned that there is no inborn talents and there is only practice will bring us greatness. I totally disagree with that and even more, this statement can lead people who reading this blog think that they can exceed in any area. Well, they don't. Our educational system is all backwards and it is really get me thinking. Most teachers and parents pay more attention to our bad grades(weaknesses) and spend to much time trying to fix it. Why didn't they focus more attention on something we good at(good grades disciplines)? According to Gallup Research Institute 77% of parents in the US think that a student's lower grades deserve the most time and attention. I think that is what killing our natural talents more then anything else. I totally agree that you can't be born CEO or chess grandmaster, you become one with practice. But you can be born with underlined talent for logical thinking.(it is all about recognizing patterns) That what will lead to be great at chess when you put years of practice into mastering this skill. I personally have a degree at Computer Science. Was I born to be a computer scientist, No. Was I born with talent to logical thinking to be good at computer science. NO! But I got a degree thought. I was miserable the whole time, but I got it. Why? Because I more of humanitarian type of person, always like to read about psychology, behavior, thinking and so on. My logic is not great, I am not lying. Was I born with inclination to have such logical skills, I think so. We all different, some more inclined to music, some to art and so on. Can I become a chess master? Well. I think I definitely can become pretty good at it, if I practice, but at the same time I know that it will not bring me happiness and joy, plus someone who have talent of logical thinking and who love play chess, will be able to beat me in no time flat. Don't get me wrong, I think you can become good a t anything, but no great by any means. And if you want to become really great at what you do, you have to know your inborn talents, and yes I believe that we born with curtain traits. In "Now Discover your strength" book, this point will become really clear. It based on research done on more then 10 million people. Another great book is "Strength Finder 2.0" Thank you for this article which got me thinking even more now Let me know what you think Very good point.

It is very important to understand that without practice nothing great can be possible. You really bring this point across nicely.

BUT, in my opinion there is one very fundamental error in this article from which whole idea of this article vanish.

You mentioned that there is no inborn talents and there is only practice will bring us greatness.
I totally disagree with that and even more, this statement can lead people who reading this blog think that they can exceed in any area. Well, they don’t.

Our educational system is all backwards and it is really get me thinking. Most teachers and parents pay more attention to our bad grades(weaknesses) and spend to much time trying to fix it. Why didn’t they focus more attention on something we good at(good grades disciplines)?

According to Gallup Research Institute 77% of parents in the US think that a student’s lower grades deserve the most time and attention.

I think that is what killing our natural talents more then anything else.

I totally agree that you can’t be born CEO or chess grandmaster, you become one with practice.

But you can be born with underlined talent for logical thinking.(it is all about recognizing patterns)

That what will lead to be great at chess when you put years of practice into mastering this skill.

I personally have a degree at Computer Science. Was I born to be a computer scientist, No. Was I born with talent to logical thinking to be good at computer science. NO! But I got a degree thought. I was miserable the whole time, but I got it. Why? Because I more of humanitarian type of person, always like to read about psychology, behavior, thinking and so on. My logic is not great, I am not lying. Was I born with inclination to have such logical skills, I think so. We all different, some more inclined to music, some to art and so on.

Can I become a chess master? Well. I think I definitely can become pretty good at it, if I practice, but at the same time I know that it will not bring me happiness and joy, plus someone who have talent of logical thinking and who love play chess, will be able to beat me in no time flat. Don’t get me wrong, I think you can become good a t anything, but no great by any means. And if you want to become really great at what you do, you have to know your inborn talents, and yes I believe that we born with curtain traits.

In “Now Discover your strength” book, this point will become really clear. It based on research done on more then 10 million people.

Another great book is “Strength Finder 2.0″

Thank you for this article which got me thinking even more now

Let me know what you think

]]> By: Luciano Passuello http://litemind.com/talent-myth/#comment-20180 Luciano Passuello Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:34:53 +0000 http://litemind.com/?p=61#comment-20180 Thanks <a href="#comment-18641" rel="nofollow">misanthropope</a> and <a href="#comment-19749" rel="nofollow">Julian</a> for bringing more examples of geniuses that used deliberate practice as means to excellence. <a href="#comment-20157" rel="nofollow">@Sam Hill</a>: That's a great way to approach learning, Sam. Some years ago, when I was trying to improve my chess playing, without noticing I settled and started playing only 'comfortable' players. It's comforting to win all the time, but it's a big no-no if you want to improve. It may not feel good at the time, but we must always stretch our comfort zones. Well, that's exactly what 'growing' is, right? <strong>Thanks for sharing your experience!</strong> Thanks misanthropope and Julian for bringing more examples of geniuses that used deliberate practice as means to excellence.

@Sam Hill: That’s a great way to approach learning, Sam. Some years ago, when I was trying to improve my chess playing, without noticing I settled and started playing only ‘comfortable’ players. It’s comforting to win all the time, but it’s a big no-no if you want to improve. It may not feel good at the time, but we must always stretch our comfort zones. Well, that’s exactly what ‘growing’ is, right?
Thanks for sharing your experience!

]]> By: Sam Hill http://litemind.com/talent-myth/#comment-20157 Sam Hill Thu, 15 Jan 2009 06:43:27 +0000 http://litemind.com/?p=61#comment-20157 Interesting article. I flunked the test to get into band in 5th grade. I was devastated. Fortunately, my parents gave me a guitar for Christmas that year (1968), and I became immersed in what you call deliberate practice. I clearly remember how techniques which are second nature now, seemed impossible at the time. It's still that way, and how I grow as a musician. I don't practice what I already know, but rather that which seems impossible, and invariably, those new techniques begin to creep into my playing. I should mention that I was a bit miffed at first to discover that you just don't "learn to play guitar" and that's it. 40 years later and I'm still at it every single day. I've recorded several albums over the years, and had 3 of my songs used on a movie soundtrack. And as for that music teacher that flunked me, all I can say is neener neener! Interesting article. I flunked the test to get into band in 5th grade. I was devastated. Fortunately, my parents gave me a guitar for Christmas that year (1968), and I became immersed in what you call deliberate practice. I clearly remember how techniques which are second nature now, seemed impossible at the time. It’s still that way, and how I grow as a musician. I don’t practice what I already know, but rather that which seems impossible, and invariably, those new techniques begin to creep into my playing. I should mention that I was a bit miffed at first to discover that you just don’t “learn to play guitar” and that’s it. 40 years later and I’m still at it every single day. I’ve recorded several albums over the years, and had 3 of my songs used on a movie soundtrack. And as for that music teacher that flunked me, all I can say is neener neener!

]]> By: Julian Pollock http://litemind.com/talent-myth/#comment-19749 Julian Pollock Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:14:35 +0000 http://litemind.com/?p=61#comment-19749 Another great example of an international character that was trained from the age of 5 and probably using the methods similar to those outlined in the Deliberate Practice Formula is the Nobel Peace Laureate, the Dalai Lama. Of course buddhists believe there would be other more esoteric factors involved, but the Dalai Lama often poo-poos such comments and is an ardent follower of scientifically proven methods. Some renowned buddhist teachers in fact often refer to buddhism as a science of mind - and not a religion as most of us have been brought up to believe. The use of meditation as a focusing tool for mind training is too frequently overlooked. Another great example of an international character that was trained from the age of 5 and probably using the methods similar to those outlined in the Deliberate Practice Formula is the Nobel Peace Laureate, the Dalai Lama. Of course buddhists believe there would be other more esoteric factors involved, but the Dalai Lama often poo-poos such comments and is an ardent follower of scientifically proven methods. Some renowned buddhist teachers in fact often refer to buddhism as a science of mind – and not a religion as most of us have been brought up to believe. The use of meditation as a focusing tool for mind training is too frequently overlooked.

]]> By: misanthropope http://litemind.com/talent-myth/#comment-18641 misanthropope Sun, 14 Dec 2008 20:43:53 +0000 http://litemind.com/?p=61#comment-18641 the classic example of this, is beethoven. his dad was determined to build another mozart. mozart was a child prodigy AND a full-fledged mature genius, the rarest of combinations. beethoven turned out to be his equal. the classic example of this, is beethoven. his dad was determined to build another mozart. mozart was a child prodigy AND a full-fledged mature genius, the rarest of combinations. beethoven turned out to be his equal.

]]> By: Don Campbell http://litemind.com/talent-myth/#comment-17857 Don Campbell Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:42:36 +0000 http://litemind.com/?p=61#comment-17857 @Charlotte - thanks for the comment. I love the beginner's mind idea! @Charlotte – thanks for the comment. I love the beginner’s mind idea!

]]> By: Charlotte http://litemind.com/talent-myth/#comment-17796 Charlotte Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:01:16 +0000 http://litemind.com/?p=61#comment-17796 Great article. I find this a very inspiring view that we can all aspire to and achieve great things. The golf ball bucket analogy makes perfect sense to me - I confess I have hit many balls rather aimlessly at the driving range ... and am far from a great golf player! Deliberate practice I think also goes hand in hand with the idea of beginner's mind. A wonderful yoga teacher described it to me like this: Yoga practice (or whatever your practice) should always be approached with beginner's mind which is conscious awareness rather than autopilot. If you approach things with an open mind, assuming you have everything to learn and are not an expert, even if you have vast experience, than you will be open to many possibilities. Great article. I find this a very inspiring view that we can all aspire to and achieve great things. The golf ball bucket analogy makes perfect sense to me – I confess I have hit many balls rather aimlessly at the driving range … and am far from a great golf player!

Deliberate practice I think also goes hand in hand with the idea of beginner’s mind. A wonderful yoga teacher described it to me like this: Yoga practice (or whatever your practice) should always be approached with beginner’s mind which is conscious awareness rather than autopilot. If you approach things with an open mind, assuming you have everything to learn and are not an expert, even if you have vast experience, than you will be open to many possibilities.

]]>