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Knowledge is the foundation of great performance, and in fields where important advances are being made continually, mastering the accumulated knowledge takes longer all the time.

…excellent performers seem to continue achieving at high levels well beyond the point where age-related declines would seem to make that impossible.

…excellent performers suffer the same age-related declines in speed and general cognitive abilities as everyone else – except in their field of expertise.

When it comes to tasks that are part of their domain of expertise, great performers can keep performing at a high level even after their skills outside their domain have deteriorated.

…continued deliberate practice enables top performers to maintain skills that would otherwise decline with age…

Just as improved methods of practice have raised standards of performance in virtually every field over time, they are also enabling top performers to continue achieving at high levels for more years than previously thought possible.

Eventually, of course, everyone’s performance declines. Even the most diligent deliberate practice cannot fend off the advancing years forever.

In some fields… fascination with the available problems seems to drive excellent performers.

…most organizations seem to be managed brilliantly for preventing people from performing at high levels.

…most future great performers need to be pushed at first.