The Science of Persuasion

This is compelling stuff. I havent finished it but the excerpts I've read are pretty interesting.

Dont Eat the Marshmallow

Article in the New Yorker about the ability to delay gratification and how it is an effective predictor of future success in life.

The best thing is that the skills a person needs to succeed in these tests can be easily taught. My takeaway is "give the kid what they want, but make them wait for it..and teach them to be patient while they are waiting".

Inchersting read.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat

David Brooks actually had an interesting column yesterday on the subject of genius and high achievement. The column is basically an exploration of the ideas in two books: “The Talent Code” by Daniel Coyle; and “Talent Is Overrated” by Geoff Colvin.

In short it's the 10,000 hours of practice, a will to approach the practice methodically, and an adult to push a person at a young age theory of genius.

Interestingly though, his example is a young girl that is working to become a great writer. You get the feel that it's a Harveyesque "rest of the story" type of column but he never closes the circle on his story.

That's because he's not a genius I guess.

All snark aside...I've added these two books to my reading list.

Only in Horseshoes

Further our conversation about competence vs going through the motions....

I just watched a clip of Levi Johnston on Tyra Banks adamantly saying that he practiced safe sex every time.

every time?
every time.
EVERY time?

(wait for it)

Most of the time.

**BUZZZ** Wrong answer. You see Levi...it only has to fail ONCE for it not to work. As you are about to learn in your career as a semi-skilled worker...things cannot be "mostly" level or "almost square" or "pretty much" grounded.

It's not enough for load chains to be in place on a tractor trailer load of pipe, they have to be secure and inspected every 100 miles or so. "What??...there were chains on the load" isn't going to fly when people end up dead. Physics doesn't give a shit if you tried. No "A" for effort.

If you decide to work with food it cannot be stored in "cold enough" coolers or cooked until it's "almost safe" to eat either.

This is the mentality of the "give me credit for trying" culture...and it's painful to watch them suffer the consequences. Amusing...but painful.

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