Dick and Sandy Pirwitz are two of our dearest friends.
Some think that Dick and I look like ' brothers from a different mother'. In
fact, a few years ago a beautiful little four year old looked up at Dick and
said, 'Bubba Don, pick me up' and her mother said, "Stella, that isn't
your Bubba Don.
Sandy, while a bit vertically challenged is taller than Shaq in intellect and zest for
life. She makes the energizer bunny look old and slow. Sandy and I share a love for books. She has bookcases
filled and is looking for more bookcases. Over our quarterly coffee last week she introduced me to
Daniel Coyle's book, 'The Talent Code'.
From the title of the introduction to the last page (236
) this book explains a lot about great talent. Coyle provides compelling
evidence that "Greatness isn't born, it's grown"
From his introduction."Every journey begins with questions, and here are
three:
- How does a penniless Russian tennis club with one indoor court create more top-twenty women players than the entire United States?
- How does a humble storefront music school in Dallas, Texas, produce Jessica Simpson, Demi Lovato, and a succession of pop music phenoms?
- How does a poor scantily educated British family in a remote village turn out three world-class writers?"
Daniel's search into what he calls "Talent
hotbeds" helped him to understand the nature, the 'Code', if you will, of
how exceptional talent is grown
.
This book is divided into three parts:
1. Deep
practice
2. Ignition
3. Master Coaching
The major factor in talent growth is understanding a
neural insulator called myelin. As we use neural pathway repeatedly the myelin
wraps itself around the pathway "the same way rubber insulation wraps a
copper wire, making the signal stronger and faster by preventing the electrical
impulses from leaking out".
Talent is formed says Coyle by "Deep Practice".
I'm reminded of the saying, "Practice makes perfect" which is
incorrect. "Perfect Practice makes Perfect and bad / flawed practice
doesn't".
This first part of the book really explores in a very
compelling way the elements of 'Deep Practice' and supports that exploration
with fascinating stories of real people discovering this most important part of
the 'code'
But what motivates people to engage in 'Deep Practice' is
revealed in the second part of the book-'ignition'. How people 'catch on fire' and are willing to
spend the time and pain growing to greatness is extraordinarily interesting.
And finally, what are the people who teach others to grow
their skills like?
The third part of this rich book - 'Master Coaching'- was
really eye opening and significant to me.
I've met a few 'Master Coaches' over the years and this part of the book
demystified many of their practices. Debby Peters, I understand you better but
you still are a mystery to me.
As I continue to read I'm struck a how similar themes
appear in writings by others.
In Marcus Buckingham's 'First Break all the Rules' on
page 84 he echoes the Myelin reality.
"Talents are the four-lane highways in your mind, those that carve
your recurring patterns of thought, feeling or behavior"
And Malcolm Gladwell referred to the 10,000 hour rule in
"The Outliers" which is echoed in this book on page 51. "Every
expert in every field is the result of about 10,000 hours of committed practice
call 'deliberate practice' and which Coyle calls 'Deep Practice'.
Thanks Sandy, you make my life better.
