The Talent Code

What is the secret of talent? How do we unlock it? From the author of The Culture Code and The Little Book of Talent, tools for maximizing potential in yourself and others.

Drawing on neurology and firsthand research gathered on journeys to nine of the world's talent hotbeds - from the baseball fields of the Caribbean to a classical-music academy in upstate New York - Daniel Coyle identifies the three key elements that will allow you to develop your gifts and optimize your performance in sports, art, music, math, or just about anything.

• Deep Practice: Everyone knows that practice is a key to success. What everyone doesn't know is that specific kinds of practice can increase skill up to ten times faster than conventional practice.
• Ignition: We all need a little motivation to get started. What separates high achievers from the rest of the pack is a higher level of commitment - call it passion - triggered by certain primal cues. Understanding how these signals work can help you ignite passion and catalyze skill development.
• Master Coaching: What are the secrets of the world's most effective teachers, trainers, and coaches? Discover the four virtues that enable these "talent whisperers" to fuel passion, inspire deep practice, and bring out the best in their students.

These three elements work together within your brain to form myelin, a microscopic neural substance that adds speed and accuracy to your movements and thoughts. The good news about myelin is that it isn't fixed at birth; it grows, and like anything that grows, it can be cultivated and nourished.