The Entrepreneurial Savant

Have you ever wondered what it is that makes it possible for some human beings to regularly perform at levels far above average? Why some athletes, musicians, counselors, communicators and leaders get far better results consistently than their peers? It used to be an accepted fact that these people were exceptionally gifted in ways that the rest of us could not hope to emulate. Recently there have been breakthroughs in the study of exceptional performance that make it possible to learn from these prodigies. By using a technique known as modeling, people are studying the personal strategies that highly skilled individuals use and putting them into form that can be taught to others.
Classically trained musicians are required to memorize extremely complex pieces of music, taking into consideration a very large number of factors including tempo, pitch, tone, feel, the interaction with other musicians, physical and mental technique, the response of the audience and many other elusive factors. By modeling the interior techniques used by musicians talented in these skills, it has become possible to teach others the process they use to achieve. They may use visualization techniques, mnemonic devices, and other techniques to help them get through a piece. By breaking these strategies down into processes, they can be taught to others.
Is there someone you admire who has abilities you would like to develop? Talk to them about the thought process they go through to prepare themselves. Observe the physical rituals they use. Read biographies and interviews for clues about the mental techniques used to get to that highly capable state. Modeling is a very complex process but even a rudimentary awareness of how it works can help you to learn faster and more effectively.

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