Chapter One: The Sweet Spot

Chapter Summary:

Some cultures may seem predestined to have success in certain talent fields. Although these outside factors contribute to talent hotbeds around the world, the real secret to their success is the way in which they practice. Achieving any skill takes a deep practice in which you have reached the sweet spot, the place where mistakes happen. Embracing mistakes and thinking about them along with repeatedly correcting mistakes are all essential parts of developing a talent.

Key Concepts:

Effective practice means to "target the struggle", seeking out mistakes and using repetition to correct them until the desired result is achieved.

Making mistakes is essential to developing talents.

Key Terms:
talent hotbeds
deep practice
the sweet spot

Making Connections:

Although I am good at finding mistakes in my singing, I need to remember to THINK about why I am making the mistake. An important part of deep practicing is stepping back and thinking about why the mistake is happening and how to fix it, not just repeating it until you get it right. Although repetition is essential it means nothing without the thinking.