Laura B TC Chapter 5 Summary

Laura B
Chapter Summary:
Not only is deep practice required to grow skill, but the motivation to consistently participate in deep practice is critical. Motivation is sustained through ignition, which enables us to create a passion for achieving our desired skills. Ignition is the thing that carries the message to us that "we can do this too!" It carries the message of who we want to become. In the chapter, a study is done on a group of elementary school students who before they went to their first instrumental lesson are asked how long they planned on playing their instruments for. The students who had set their sights on a long-term goal outperformed those who had only short-term commitment by 400 percent, even though their amount of practice was the same. To the outside world, we might say that the over-performing kids were just naturally more talented, but the author attributes it to the belief of who they think they are and who they want to be. How is ignition created?  It comes through a variety of what the author calls primitive cues, or the triggers that activate our motivation towards a certain goal. The first primal cue described is as future belonging, or the desire to identify one's self with a high-achieving group. When someone begins to fall behind the group, ignition this primal cue is the thing that motivates us to "better get busy." Lack of safety has been another primal cue for many high-class achievers who lost a parent at an early age. It shows that adverse events can nurture a personality which can overcome any challenge standing in the way of achievement. Scarcity is another primal cue, because it makes those you are involved feel privileged to be part of it, because not everyone does. Lastly, exclusivity is described as a primal cue, which plants in us a desire to be special and unique, being able to do something that not everyone else can. Each of these primal cues can fuel the ignition to help us be continuously motivated towards meeting our goals.
Key Concept: Ignition through primal cues is the motivating fire underneath passion and deep practice.
Key Terms: ignition, primal cues, Scrooge Principle, automaticity, future belonging, safety, scarcity, exclusivity
Making Connections: In order to help myself to be continuously motivated to participate in deep practice and work towards my goals, I need to have a clear sense of what my goals are and who I want to become. I then need to surround myself with primal cues, through examples from others, and the sense that I can do that too.