Sean D’Souza – Suddenly Talented

How to avoid the “I’m not talented” dungeon by understanding energy

We all know what “energy” looks like. However, in this section, we look at why people fail time and time again. It’s almost always because of bad energy management. Why does energy matter so much when we’re gaining a new talent? How to know whether you’re going off track and are with the wrong system—or wrong teacher. This slightly unusual idea of energy will show you how to make choices that will move you forward, not throw you back into the “I’m not talented dungeon”.

Why confidence is more important than skill

It’s normal to believe that as we get more skilled, we will also get more confident. However, don’t you know people who have studied a language and still can’t speak it? They know the vocabulary fairly well and have a good sense of the grammar but are reluctant to put themselves out there. The concept of confidence plays an inordinately large role in creating talent. Conversely, if someone destroys our confidence, it won’t matter how skilled we are. Understanding the concept of confidence allows us to pick the right teachers who prioritise confidence over mere skill.

The hidden factor called the “Safe Zone”

Almost directly linked to confidence is something that many of us ignore. It’s called the “Safe Zone”. How does this “Safe Zone” play a crucial role in speeding up our learning? In this chapter, you learn to see the “Safe Zone” through a master teacher. This knowledge enables you to look for “Safe Zones” when learning but also to make sure you’re creating “Safe Zones” when training others.

And yes, the 10,000 hour dilemma