Talent is Never Enough

“Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.”

—Stephen King

In John Maxwell’s valuable new book, Talent is Never Enough, he cites Peter Drucker on effectiveness, "There seems to be little correlation between a man's effectiveness and his intelligence, his imagination, or his knowledge...Intelligence, imagination, and knowledge are essential resources, but only effectiveness converts them into results. By themselves, they only set limits to what can be contained." "If talent were enough," Maxwell writes, "then the most effective and influential people would always be the most talented ones. But that is often not the case."

Talent might get you noticed but it won’t keep you there. Success requires hard work. To achieve the effectiveness that Drucker is talking about and to turn talent into results is matter of choice. Maxwell writes, “The key choices you make—apart from the natural talent you already have—will set you apart from others who have talent alone.” He has identified 13 choices you can make to maximize your talent. These choices form the framework of his book:

• Belief lifts your talent: Lack of belief in yourself can act as a ceiling on talent.

• Passion energizes your talent: A passionate person with limited talent will outperform a passive person who possesses greater talent.

• Initiative activates your talent: Socrates said, “To move the world we must first move ourselves.”

• Focus directs your talent: Attempting everything, like attempting nothing will suck the life out of you.

• Preparation positions your talent: Becoming more intentional. You can claim to be surprised once; after that, you’re unprepared.

• Practice sharpens your talent: Practice demands discipline and embracing change.

• Perseverance sustains your talent: People who display perseverance keep a larger vision in mind as they toil away at their craft or profession.

• Courage tests your talent: As we develop our talent and grow to our potential we will be tested continually. Courage is an everyday virtue.

• Teachability expands your talent: Teachability is not so much about competence and mental capacity as it is about attitude. It is the desire to listen, learn, and apply. Talented people can be the toughest to teach because they often think they know it all. It’s a problem of pride.

• Character protects your talent: People cannot climb beyond the limitations of their character. Talented people are sometimes tempted to take shortcuts. Character prevents that.

• Relationships influence your talent: Life is too short to spend it with people who pull you in the wrong direction. And it’s too short not to invest in others. Your relationships will define you.

• Responsibility strengthens your talent: Responsibility not only improves your life, but also will improve the life of those around you.

• Teamwork multiplies your talent: Teamwork divides the effort and multiples the effect.

“Make these choices,” Maxwell encourages, “and you can become a talent-plus person. If you have talent, you stand alone. If you have talent plus, you stand out.”

Posted by Michael McKinney at 09:54 AM
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