Sunday, April 12, 2009

Cognitively complex

"...whatever it is that an IQ test measures, it is not the ability to engage in cognitively complex forms of multivariate reasoning." That last phrase is not one that most of us use very often, but it's actually a very good description of what most of us do every day in our working [and cello-playing] lives, and what the best performers do extremely well. You just don't have to be especially "smart," as traditionally defined, to do it.

Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else (Geoff Colvin, 2008)
p. 44

2 comments:

MMG said...

Or as my first drawing instructor told our class -- its 2% talent, 98% perspiration.

Emily said...

Muhahahaaa! I am not alone! You know me, I tire people out at cocktail parties talking about the "liability of talent". :)