We’ve probably all heard a reference to someone as having “natural talent†or being “particularly gifted in an area†or even being a prodigy. Such claims are often made about athletes or musicians but you will hear them about just about any kind of profession.  And they’re complete bunk.
Professor Anders Ericsson at Florida State is the leading researcher into what has now become known as “Genius Researchâ€. Ericsson and others look at what it takes for someone to become an outstanding performer in their field.  What they’ve found out is that raw talent, even physical ability (like size in football or height in basketball) make very little difference in determining whether or not someone becomes great or not. Instead, it’s primarily about two different factors:
- How much you practice
- How well you practice
Let’s take a look at each of these factors. Continue reading “Natural Talent? I Think Not.”