Have you ever wondered how talent is developed? Daniel Coyle reveals the mystery in The Talent Code. If you have a skill you want to develop then I highly recommend this book. Based upon neurological research, Coyle identifies three primary elements that will help you develop your talents. If one learns how to practice, “One real encounter, even for a few seconds, is far more useful than several hundred observations” (p. 18). Here are the three elements:

1. Deep Practice This may be considered deliberate practice whereby one is “working on technique, seeking constant critical feedback, and focusing ruthlessly on shoring up weaknesses” (p. 51). This involves finding the sweet spot which is “that productive, uncomfortable terrain located just beyond our current abilities, where our reach exceeds our grasp” (p. 92). This is not easy therefore it requires . . .

2. Ignition This is the motivational fuel for the talent code. “But deep practice isn’t a piece of cake: it requires energy, passion, and commitment” (p. 97). Ignition is the vision for who you want to become, it enables you to delay gratification for a future goal. The words of W. B. Yeats are appropriate, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

3. Master Coaching We were not meant to live in isolation, we need others to speak into our lives. Jesus modeled this as He poured His life into His disciples who would go forth and change the world. “A great teacher has the capacity to always take it deeper, to see the learning the student is capable of and to go there. It keeps going deeper and deeper because the teacher can think about the material in so many different ways, and because there’s an endless number of connections they can make” (p. 178). Henry Adams has said, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”

This is a great book for gaining some practical tips for taking your talents to the next level.