On air: Talent is a 'largely defunct concept'. We all have the potential to excel...
| 05:00 UK time, Thursday, 26 August 2010
was a sensational table tennis player (if you don't believe me ). Still is by any of our standards no doubt. He was British number one, and took gold three times in the men's singles at the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships. (He was also a defender, an amazing but sadly now dying art more alive in the tennis of Andy Murray than in 21st century table tennis.)
Now Matthew Syed is a sports journalist for The Times, and has recently written a book called Bounce: How Champions Are Made, which explores what leads people to being the absolute best in their chosen field. And he's our guest on Thursday.
The nub of his argument is this: anyone can obtain the talent to reach the very top if they practice enough, practice in a productive way and are prepared to learn. Nothing we are born with counts for anything when set against what we can learn.
Check , for a feature on it with the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s Nick Higham, and has the hallmarks of a video produced to promote the book. Still it gives a good idea of where he's coming from.
Here is , which also lays out the issues. And .
What is under attack is the belief that without specific expertise (whether in business, sport or any other domain) certain people have the 'talent' to shift between one field or another. Also under attack is the idea that some of us have a natural affinity to excel.
We've all heard people say 'oh he's just naturally good at sport,' or 'oh she's always been musical'. Not so argues Matthew Syed.
Our guests will include NBA legend John Amaechi.
What's your experience? And your view of Matthew Syed's arguments?
I'll post more tomorrow.
