Genius = 1 % inspiration + 99% perspiration

From New Scientist: How to be a genius.

Also see this blog commenting on the Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert performance.

I might have shared the articles above before but I think it's important enough to share again. The book "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell touches on a similar topic, that research seems to show that genius is really 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. It's interesting to think of this in the context of the Singapore education system, where students are channeled from a young age into "Gifted" education streams on the basis of their high performance on IQ tests. Students in these streams generally receive more education resources and opportunities to develop their talent.

What might be more effective would be for individuals to have their unique talents or interests identified at a young age, and then for the system to provide the appropriate resources and mentors to develop these interests intensely for the rest of their lives. In essence, have more Arts schools, conservatories, science and sports schools.

A potential problem I can see arising from such a practice might be the emergence of castes/classes, and the segregation of society. Still, bearing the lessons of history in mind, I wonder if we can devise a way in this day and age to capitalize on the advantages of such focussed talent development without the creation of classes.