Late Bloomers Become the Top Performers
A review of published papers on developmental patterns sheds light on the origins of exceptional human achievements. The research looked at top performers across various disciplines, including science, chess, music, and athletics, revealing several key patterns in the development of world-class performance:
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Youth vs. Adulthood: Exceptional performers in their youth and those who reach world-class levels as adults often follow distinct developmental paths over time.
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Early Development: In youth, exceptional performance is typically linked to intense, focused practice within a single discipline, with rapid progress in the early stages and minimal involvement in other fields.
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Adult Performance: In contrast, adult world-class performers tend to diversify their practice, incorporating multidisciplinary skills, and experience more gradual development over time.