Mind or matter, art or science, nature or nurture … coaches have been debating how athletes develop talent for years. Hypotheses abound, some supported by empirical evidence and others by experimental results. The Talent Code hopes to cut through all of these ideas and provide a concrete theory. The slim volume may lack the depth to settle this debate once and for all but it certainly provides a few pieces of advice that could help any coach, teacher, or educator.
The book focuses on the creation of myelin, a substance which insulates connections between neurons and improves the efficiency of the process. Deep process – motivated by a profound inspiration and guided by master coaching – develops talent. Since diverse fields require different well-defined skills, a coach or teacher must know how to fire the appropriate neurons to create the myelin. It is the responsibility of the athlete or student to provide passion and practice.
Many expert coaches, teachers, and instructors are profiled in the book and they are merely a drop in the bucket relative to all the individuals who could have been included. One particular teacher was John Wooden, who was selected because of his reputation and successful record in collegiate basketball. Wooden planned practices in great detail and consequently was able to include a high volume of teaching in every practice. On average, Wooden performed over eighty distinct instances of teaching in every hour of practice. His coaching was succinct and specific; Wooden neither praised nor reproved much, choosing instead to provide clear and concise information to each player.
The Talent Code also illustrated the need for self-correction in order to improve. There is no point choosing the easy path because it is overcoming adversity that significantly builds myelin. An athlete, musician, or student who can recognize their mistakes, correct them, and repeat the action with the precise technique until satisfied will finish ahead of the one who does not self-evaluate much.
Critical thinking on the basketball court involves self-correction as much as sport-specific strategy and mental training. Video can prove to be a helpful tool but athletes should also understand how performing a skill the right way feels. Too often coaches burden athletes with set plays and abstract concepts instead of providing a strong fundamental base and encouraging them to push their limits. When building myelin, or talent, you truly get what you are willing to accept.