Is my child talented? This is a question that I am asked all the time. In fact, this has been a subject that I have been passionate about for years. Talent… Who has it? Why do some appear to have more talent than others? Is it possible to increase talent? Or is it just plain dumb luck?
In this episode, which originally aired in 2009, I interview New York Times bestselling author Daniel Coyle. We talk about the concepts in his book The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How.
When I was growing up I developed a fixed mindset around talent. I thought you were either intelligent and talented or you were not. I was afraid of failure because of this, but that’s another story. Coaching swimming is one of the things that changed my fixed mindset. I saw first hand what could be accomplished with the combination of practice, motivation, and coaching.
In The Talent Code, Daniel writes about these concepts and calls them deep practice, ignition, and master coaching. Deep practice is international and focused practice where you work at the top edge of your ability. When this is paired with passion and a teacher or coach that can bring out the best in their student, skill and talent can bloom.
Daniel also pairs these concepts with neuroscience. We dive into what happens in the brain that makes deep practice, ignition, and master coaching actually work. Listen in to hear the answers to questions like “Why do some people appear to have more talent than others,” and to learn a whole new way of developing skills.
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LISTEN HERE
WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER
- Whether talent is inherent or can be created
- What deep practice is
- How ignition drives effective learning
- How master coaching links it all together
- Whether or not some people are born with talent
- How myelin in your brain develops and effects talent and skills
- Why it’s so tempting to believe that talent is all genetics
RESOURCES FOR YOU
- Daniel Coyle’s website
- The Talent Code
- My interview with Carol Dweck on mindset
- Another interview with Daniel Coyle: The Culture Code
- Get my new on demand workshop: Trusting Yourself
- Sign up here to receive Friday Podcast updates, Sunday Love letters, and Wisdom Wednesdays.