Chapter 18: The Truth About Talent (When Genes Matter and When They Don't)

Question 1

How do you maximize your odds of success?

Answer 1

Align habits with your natural inclinations and abilities/

-Choose the right field of competition.

Question 2

How can we use genes?

Answer 2

Direct effort towards the things that excite you and match your natural skills.

-Align ambition with ability.

Question 3

What are the 5 Spectrums of Behavior?

Answer 3

1) Openness to Experience
-Curious and Inventive to Cautious and Consistent

2) Conscientiousness
-Organized and Efficient to Easy-going and Spontaneous

3) Extroversion
-Outgoing and Energetic to Solitary and Reserved

4) Agreeableness
-Friendly and Compassionate to Challenging and Detached

5) Neuroticism
-Anxious and Sensitive to Confident, Calm, and Stable

Question 4

What is personality?

Answer 4

Your set of characteristics that is consistent from situation to situation.

Question 5

What is the Explore/Exploit Trade-off?

Answer 5

First, cast a wide net and try many things, then shift your focus to what you are good at.

-Explore, then exploit.

Question 6

What Questions to Ask Yourself?
(Find out what you are naturally skilled at or interested in)

Answer 6

1) What feels like fun to me, but work to others?

2) What makes me lose track of time?

3) Where do I get greater returns than the average person?

4) What comes naturally to me?

Question 7

What do genes and personality do for you?

Answer 7

Clarify our strengths, nothing more.

-Focus on building your strengths to reach your potential.