Book review: The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle

I read the book Talent Code by Daniel Coyle. It's a book about learning and talent. Talent isn't natural born, it is always learned. There might be some genetic issues that make it easier to learn to become good at something, but after all it is always about learning.

This book is a journey to talent hotbeds, places where talent seem to be grown and at the same time journey to human brain to understand how the talent grows. Daniel Coyle visits quite different places and introduces many interesting people about creating talents. Also he introduces lates findings on how myelin, the white stuff in brain actually makes people to perform better.

The book is easy to read, filled with excellent examples and interesting facts. Even the very technical parts of brain and nervous system is explained in the way that I could understand.

Those who want to learn how to learn, or learn how to teach, this a good book for you. I highly recommend this for parents too. This gives good understanding what are the things that really affect on learning.

It's great book, about interesting and important subject. I loved the book and I bet many other would also.

Written by +Henri Hämäläinen

Two types of people, people who like to do the things they are good at and then those who don't

Some time ago I heard a phrase that I have been thinking since. It claimed that there are two types of people, those who like to do what they are best at and those who want to do things that they are not good at yet.

So often people are encouraged to find the things they are good at and then keep on working on those skills. This has been seen the best way to succeed, learning a solid skill in something. That's so easy to agree and cope with.

I, on the other hand, have never liked to do things I'm good at. At least, not the very same things, I've already done couple of times. I've always been looking to do things I've never done before or stretch the tasks to whole new level. Then I really have something to learn.

It was relief when I heard presenter stating this phrase in one conference I attended. I finally got the impression that maybe I'm not alone with my thinking. Maybe for some it's natural to try out to handle these new tasks with skills learned from other tasks and not to enjoy using skills you are good at.

For example, I always like playing games with people who are better than me. I don't like losing, but I hate winning an opponent which wasn't really a good one. Same goes with everything, I rather fail couple of times, than succeed with too easy performance.

So don't worry if you don't want to do the things you are good at. I've got so far raising the bar or taking new challenges always when possible. Sometimes I've had to do the stuff I'm good at, but I really like most to do the things I've got lot to learn.

Written by +Henri Hämäläinen