The Uses of Madness
When I was in grade school, my ironclad bedtime routine included setting out the next day’s clothing. I didn’t fold the clothes, but laid them carefully on the floor exactly as I would put them … keep reading
The Rule of Limits
I love this video, first because of the kid’s uncanny resemblance to Young Forrest Gump. Second, because of the reaction of the other kids — they’re stunned, thrilled, and ignited by his performance. (If he … keep reading
What Shape is Your Talent?
Spiderweb? Loop? Or Funnel? Let me back up a second and start with a simple idea: Skills are really circuits in your brain. I think this is a cool and useful idea, first because our brains are … keep reading
Yo-Yo Ma to the Rescue
Returning from a spring break trip to Montana, my 14-year-old son Aidan and I were minding our own business, walking among the weary hordes of travelers at the Chicago airport. Then we noticed a slight … keep reading
The Importance of Being Unpredictable
This time of year our family happily geeks out on the Iditarod, that legendary 1,049-mile sled dog race from Willow to Nome. We tape a map on the fridge and follow our favorites — Lance … keep reading
The 3 Traits of Great Teachers
What makes certain teachers so magical? What qualities should we look for, and what ones should we ignore? In the last month we’ve seen a provocative new wave of reporting and research on that old … keep reading
And the Oscar Goes to…
Ah, Oscar Week. Over the next six days we’ll witness people praising the visionary talent of best-director co-favorites James Cameron (“Avatar”) and Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker”). We’ll hear about Cameron and Bigelow’s amazing skills: … keep reading
Are You In the Zone? Take This Test.
Recently I’ve been talking with a few master coaches about learning velocity — specifically, asking them for tools that will help people locate the “sweet spot” where learning velocity increases. And that spot is pretty … keep reading
Tiger’s Baby Steps
Check out these rare snapshots from Tiger Woods’s early childhood. (Located in the lobby of the Tiger Woods Center on Nike’s campus in Beaverton, Oregon, where they reside like holy artifacts at the Vatican.) These … keep reading
How to Design a Useful Yardstick
Instant proverb of the day: You are what you count. Many of the talent hotbeds I visited for the book don’t rely on conventional performance yardsticks. Instead, they design their own. The other day I … keep reading