There are places around the world that seem to mass-produce people with extraordinary talent who, against all odds, are able to achieve world-class status as athletes, musicians, or writers, to name a few. So what sets these countries apart? Is it a specific feature of the place, or is it to do with the people? Is talent an innate quality that we are born with, and that depends exclusively on our DNA?
Daniel Coyle set out to answer these questions, visiting talent-producing places and meeting psychologists and neuroscientists, in order to explore the nature of talent from a scientific perspective. Contrary to popular belief, everyone is capable of developing skills by following the three elements of Coyle's Talent Code: practice, motivation, and coaching.
In order to understand the importance of these factors, we must first explore the processes that occur inside the human brain: every activity corresponds to an electrical impulse that travels along a circuit made up of nerve fibres. A substance called myelin coats and insulates these fibres in layers that get thicker every time the impulse is fired. So methodical practice strengthens the brain's biological processes, but this is impossible to sustain without the driving force of passion or motivation, which can often be triggered by a single event. Finally, it is crucial that we have a person to guide and inspire us, like a coach or mentor, who can help us achieve greatness through guided practice and motivation.
