Talent Code

Question 1

Skill is

Answer 1

A cellular insulation that wraps neural circuits and that grows in response to certain signals

Question 2

Brain is not a recorder

Answer 2

its a scaffold. The more we generate impulses, encountering and overcoming difficulties, the more scaffolding we build. The more scaffolding we build, the faster we learn.

Question 3

Myelin Sheathing

Answer 3

1. Every human movement, thought or feeling is a precisely timed electric signal traveling through a chain of neutrons 2. Myelin is the insulation that wraps these fibres and increases signal strength, speed an accuracy 3. The more we fire a particular circuit, the more myelin optimizes that circuit, the strong more fluent our actions and thoughts become.

Question 4

Why is targeted, mistake focused practice so effective?

Answer 4

Because the best way to build a good circuit is to fire it, attend to mistakes, and fire it again, over and over. Struggle is not an option. its a requirement

Question 5

Why are passion and persistence the key ingredients of talent

Answer 5

Because myelin wrapping around a big circuit requires immense energy and time. If you don’t love it, you will never work that hard to be great.

Question 6

Automacity

Answer 6

The more we develop a skill circuit, the less were aware that we are using it.

Question 7

Deliberate Practice

Answer 7

Working on technique, seeking constant critical feedback, focusing ruthlessly on shoring up weaknesses

Question 8

Aristotle

Answer 8

Excellence is a habit

Question 9

Rules of Myelin

Answer 9

1. The firing of the circuit is paramount.
   Myelin is not built to respond to fond wishes or values ideas. The mechanism is built to respond to actions. It responds to urgent repetition.
2. Myelin is Universal
3. Myelin wraps but does not unwrap—the only way to change habits is to build new habits to replace the old ones- by myelinating new circuits
4. Age Matters— sTART Young for greatness

Question 10

Building skill or knowledge

Answer 10

consists of identifying important elements and building them into an important neural framework

Question 11

Rule One: Chunk it Up

Answer 11

Look at the task as a whole—the megacircuit. Then, break the task into its smallest possible chunks. Third, play with time, slowing the action down, then speeding it up to learn its architecture

Question 12

Self regulation

Answer 12

Observe, judge and strategize their own performance.

Question 13

Two: Repeat IT

Answer 13

3-5 hours of deep practice a day. Must be deep focused practice to be effective. Must be continuous.

Question 14

Rule Three: Learn to Feel It

Answer 14

1. Pick a target
2. Reach for it
3. Evaluate the gap between the target and the reach
4. Return to step one

Question 15

Hotspots of genius

Answer 15

create a competitive environment with a race to the top.

Question 16

Power of outside cues

Answer 16

Left to our own devices, our mindset is stable, but when we get a clear cue from someone else , that spends a spark

Question 17

Motivational Language

Answer 17

You tried really hard, i recognize the effort you put into that.

A: You belong to a group
B: Your group is together in a strange and dangerous new world
C: that new world is shaped like a mountain, with the paradise of college at the top.

Question 18

Laws of learning

Answer 18

Explanation, demonstration, imitation, correction, repetition.

Question 19

Good Coaching

Answer 19

Quick information filled bursts of advice

Deep integrated knowledge that allows the coach to pull out specific pieces for student.

Imperative, commands, short bursts. Ok you got it, now do x. every step a stepping stone to somewhere else.