Demystifying performance in It’s Not Magic
The title of It’s Not Magic sets the tone perfectly. John Amaechi’s message is clear from the outset: excellence, whether individual or organisational, is rarely the result of mysterious talent or sudden insight. It is built, deliberately and often unglamorously, through behaviour, environment and expectation.
Reading the book, I was struck by how often we attribute success to personality or charisma, and failure to individual shortcomings. Amaechi quietly dismantles that narrative, shifting attention toward the systems and conditions that shape performance over time.
What I appreciated most was the book’s honesty. There is no promise of quick transformation, no shortcuts. Instead, Amaechi invites the reader to look closely at habits, incentives and the stories organisations tell themselves about effort and ability.
As I moved through the chapters, I found myself reflecting on how often we label something as “exceptional” when it is actually the product of consistency, support and clear standards. That reframing feels particularly important in cultures that celebrate heroics while overlooking the environments that make them possible.
The writing is calm, grounded and quietly persuasive. Psychology and experience are blended in a way that feels practical rather than theoretical. You come away not with a sense of awe, but with a sense of agency.
It’s Not Magic is a useful antidote to the myth that high performance belongs to a gifted few. It reminds us that excellence is usually the outcome of intentional design, patience and care.
