There is no such thing as natural talent

Talent, genetics, or just plain luck are all brilliant excuses we use to separate ourselves from the elite performers in our world. But that’s the point, these are all just excuses. They are not based upon the reality of what it means to be an elite performer in any field. Outside of a few specific athletic abilities that genetics play a part in, such as height, there is very little stopping us from achieving anything.

The truth of high performance is deliberate practice. Even the most hollywoodicized stories of natural talent all boil down to a reality of many hours of deliberate practice. Mozart? Yes he was young, but he has been practicing in music from the age of a toddler. Having nearly a decade under his belt before creating anything truly noteworthy.

While Malcom Gladwell’s 10,000 hours rule has become criticized as of late, it still holds some validity. In areas of expertise which are filled with multiple generations of knowledge, it takes a substantial amount of practice to set yourself apart from the pack. In less crowded pursuits, you may set yourself apart from the crowd more quickly.

But 10,000 hours of practice doesn’t guarantee your success. It takes deliberate practice, pushing yourself past your boundaries persistently in order to move forward in your chosen skill. 10,000 hours of rote repetition won’t get you very far. 10,000 hours of pushing past your comfort zone on the other hand will likely put you into the elite category skill.

Some skills can be mastered far quicker than 10,000 hours. For example, if you are one of the first practitioners of a skill, then technically you will have reached an elite level soon after starting. Of course without continually honing your skills you may easily be passed up by others taking on the new skill.

We are always capable of becoming better at a skill. Perhaps only by an insignificant margin, or with a new approach a significant leap. Every decade new world records are set in nearly all categories as humans push past previous records. With every record set, new forms of training are created and new knowledge is passed down making it that much easier for the next round to break records.

It is a small percentage of the population who are willing to put the time and effort into deliberate practice, because it isn’t always easy. Deliberate practice isn’t always enjoyable, in fact it tends to be uncomfortable. But those of us willing to break through our comfort zone are able to reach new heights in human potential.

Our education system should foster the desire and ability to take part in deliberate practice throughout our lifetimes. Giving a larger chunk of the population the motivation to seek self improvement.

We are all in control of our destinies. By choosing to deliberately practice persistently, consistently, and over long periods we shape our abilities. Are you willing to put in the time and take control of your destiny?

This blurb inspired by the reading of Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool