Comments on: You don’t get better at writing essays by writing more essays http://blog.gbrettmiller.com/you-dont-get-better-at-writing-essays-by-writing-more-essays/ ...no straight lines... Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:06:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Brett http://blog.gbrettmiller.com/you-dont-get-better-at-writing-essays-by-writing-more-essays/comment-page-1/#comment-500 Brett Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:32:18 +0000 http://blog.gbrettmiller.com/?p=328#comment-500 I've been revisiting some of the ideas in "Talent is Overrated", and my notes and thoughts on the book, since I read Dan Pink's "Drive" and am reading Seth Godin's "Linchpin". Those two books flesh out the "practice at work" (or, as Seth puts it, "work as art") ideas that Geoff Colvin hinted at. A lot to sort through and make sense of. I'm glad I have mind maps to help me with that. I’ve been revisiting some of the ideas in “Talent is Overrated”, and my notes and thoughts on the book, since I read Dan Pink’s “Drive” and am reading Seth Godin’s “Linchpin”. Those two books flesh out the “practice at work” (or, as Seth puts it, “work as art”) ideas that Geoff Colvin hinted at. A lot to sort through and make sense of.

I’m glad I have mind maps to help me with that.

]]> By: Notes on Geoff Colvin’s Talent Is Overrated -- Hoover’s Business Insight Zone http://blog.gbrettmiller.com/you-dont-get-better-at-writing-essays-by-writing-more-essays/comment-page-1/#comment-238 Notes on Geoff Colvin’s Talent Is Overrated -- Hoover’s Business Insight Zone Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:31:04 +0000 http://blog.gbrettmiller.com/?p=328#comment-238 [...] You don’t get better at writing essays by writing more essays. In this post, G. Brett Miller draws on his U.S. Army experience to confirm Colvin’s [...] [...] You don’t get better at writing essays by writing more essays. In this post, G. Brett Miller draws on his U.S. Army experience to confirm Colvin’s [...]

]]> By: Brett http://blog.gbrettmiller.com/you-dont-get-better-at-writing-essays-by-writing-more-essays/comment-page-1/#comment-197 Brett Wed, 27 May 2009 15:04:38 +0000 http://blog.gbrettmiller.com/?p=328#comment-197 Going back to the sports analogy, working every day is a lot like having to play a game (of whatever sport) every day. Baseball players get a chance to warm-up before the game with some batting practice, golfers spend some time at the driving range before they tee off; how much time are workers today given to "warm up" before they tackle the problems of the day? Also, most sports have an off-season, where the athletes can focus on the training and practice they don't - or can't - get during the regular season. For most organizations, an "off-season" would be a very bad thing. Going back to the sports analogy, working every day is a lot like having to play a game (of whatever sport) every day. Baseball players get a chance to warm-up before the game with some batting practice, golfers spend some time at the driving range before they tee off; how much time are workers today given to “warm up” before they tackle the problems of the day?

Also, most sports have an off-season, where the athletes can focus on the training and practice they don’t – or can’t – get during the regular season. For most organizations, an “off-season” would be a very bad thing.

]]> By: Brett http://blog.gbrettmiller.com/you-dont-get-better-at-writing-essays-by-writing-more-essays/comment-page-1/#comment-196 Brett Wed, 27 May 2009 14:52:53 +0000 http://blog.gbrettmiller.com/?p=328#comment-196 Tony, The question of available time is a big one. Almost every example I could find, including the ones I give, are people who put in a lot of practice hours on their own time, because they had a passion - or at least a strong desire - to become better at what they were trying to do. A lot of people like their jobs, but I'd wager that relatively few really love what they do enough to spend their free time getting better just for the sake of getting better. Tony,

The question of available time is a big one. Almost every example I could find, including the ones I give, are people who put in a lot of practice hours on their own time, because they had a passion – or at least a strong desire – to become better at what they were trying to do. A lot of people like their jobs, but I’d wager that relatively few really love what they do enough to spend their free time getting better just for the sake of getting better.

]]> By: Tony Karrer http://blog.gbrettmiller.com/you-dont-get-better-at-writing-essays-by-writing-more-essays/comment-page-1/#comment-195 Tony Karrer Wed, 27 May 2009 13:26:09 +0000 http://blog.gbrettmiller.com/?p=328#comment-195 Great post. It's leaving me wondering about "practice" vs. "work" - do we really have time for practice anymore? There is time for some core skills, but most of what we do day-to-day is fairly new to each of us. I've not really had time to think this through ... but looking forward to continued thoughts on this. Great post. It’s leaving me wondering about “practice” vs. “work” – do we really have time for practice anymore? There is time for some core skills, but most of what we do day-to-day is fairly new to each of us.

I’ve not really had time to think this through … but looking forward to continued thoughts on this.

]]>