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How Sweet is Success? |
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by Hema Ravi |
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English Composition I: Achieving Expertise Review: Coyle, Daniel (2009). “The Sweet Spot.” The Talent Code. Greatness Isn’t born. It’s grown. Here’s how. New York: Bantam 2009. 11-29 Abstract: Coyle proceeds on a journey to lesser known places, to gain insight into the success stories of several ordinary people inhabiting them. He scrutinizes the potential and hidden talent, their motivation to shine amidst all odds, how they carve a niche for themselves after overcoming hurdles with effective course correction. The chapter goes on to explain the various techniques to achieve the same. Introduction:
Success is achieved by the choicest few who invest money and time; the downtrodden majority is deprived of triumph due to the lack of financial support is a notion several amongst us may carry. Geniuses are born, endowed with intuitive thinking, not made - Is it so? Is there an element of luck, or it is by relentless, smart work one attains victory? Daniel Coyle in his book The Talent Code: The Sweet Spot proclaims the findings of his “great expedition” (p. 12), his itinerary encompassing lesser known locales, ranging from a ramshackle tennis court in Moscow, inner city school in San Jose, to a rundown music academy in New York’s Adirondacks, a baseball -mad Caribbean island and other “humble places” that were “titanically accomplished.” (p. 12). Discussion:
Coyle’s “chicken wire Harvards” (p.12), appears to have some semblance to the story of diminutive David defeating the mighty Goliath! Talking about the “innovation gene” major social changes comes from “outliers” (Malcolm Gladwell) “In the systemized models of learning, students must learn to navigate and “fit.” The pressure to fit into a strait- jacket could hold back the learner from exhibiting the inherent, innate talents. A “beak-nosed” ‘‘tinkerer” (p.21) would be more proficient in creating a masterpiece! “Edwin Link’s Unusual Device” (p.20) which was first viewed as a “novel profitable amusement device (p.22) did see the light of the day and became well known as “The Blue Box” (p.24). It gave thousands of pilots a chance to “practice more deeply” (p.24) to “take off” and “land” without fear of crashing. “Thousands of unskilled youth “were transformed into “pilots” quickly and “safely.” (p.23) Coyle’s work substantiates the well-known quote- “Winners don’t do different things, they do things differently.” (Shiv Khera) Conclusion: Apart from this trivial concern, Coyle’s Talent Code urges the reader to stop and deliberate on the universal truth that practice makes perfect. No pains, No gains! Several thinkers have attained “self realization” after embarking on a journey preparing the mind and emotions psychologically and spiritually. Reading Coyle’s Sweet Spot motivates the reader to embark on a voyage of self- improvement. References:
1. Gladwell Malcolm: Outliers: The Story of Success |
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27-May-2013 | ||
More by : Hema Ravi | ||
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