A Good AVT is a coach who knows how to nurture talent

Don’t: Seek a coach or teacher (and I might add Auditory-Verbal Therapist) who’s like a courteous waiter.

Do: Seek coaches and teachers (and Auditory-Verbal Therapists) who scare you a little.

Why: It’s easy to confuse pleasure and comfort with actual learning. But truly good coaches and teachers ( and AVTs) are about challenging you to get to the edge of your abilities, time and time again. Seek out coaches ( and a good AVT is a coach) who are authoritative, who know their stuff, and who take charge. A little scary is good.

From "How to Nurture Talent"/ The Little Book of Talent by Daniel Coyle