Things That Do Not Require Talent
By Dr. John C. Maxwell
Talent grips us. We areovertaken by the beauty of Michelangelo’s sculpture, riveted by MariahCarey’s angelic voice, doubled over in laughter by the comedy of RobinWilliams, and captivated by the on screen performances of DenzelWashington.
However, we live in a world ofupsets. The most talented do not always end up as celebrities, andthose with less talent often do. Upsets are written into our historyand occur around us every day. A ragtag army of revolutionariesdefeated the British Empire to free the American colonies and to founda new nation. As a startup company, Google outwitted and outperformedentrenched search engines which had far more capital and namerecognition.
Why are the most talented not always the best? What enables the less skilled to be, at times, far more successful?
The goal of this edition of LWis not to minimize talent, but to emphasize qualities independent oftalent which, when practiced, add value to others and ourselves. Whilethe four traits I’ve highlighted in this lesson are not comprehensive,they are among the most prominent qualities that do not rely upontalent.
Teachability
The desire to listen, learn, andapply is not innate, but when cultivated, it aids the growth anddevelopment of a leader. In the words of Henry Brooks Adams “They knowenough who know how to learn.”
Look for and plan your teachablemoments. Intentionally ask questions to draw out the depth ofexperience and knowledge in those around you. My best friends are mybest teachers. I love to learn, and I am fascinated by individuals whohave a wealth of wisdom to share. As Beltasar Gracian said, “Make yourfriends your teachers and mingle the pleasures of conversation with theadvantages of instruction.” Find teachable moments, and make themcount. Live to learn and you will really learn to live.
Successful people view learningdifferently than those who are less successful. For successful leaders,learning is as necessary as breathing. They crave knowledge and seek itout through books, conferences, conversations, and evaluatedexperiences. The unsuccessful person is burdened by learning, andprefers to walk down familiar paths. Their distaste for learning stuntstheir growth and limits their influence.
Initiative
Initiative is the inner drivethat propels leaders to achieve great dreams. American founding father,Benjamin Franklin, held to the following maxim about initiative: “Tosucceed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions.”Leaders with initiative have an eagerness to make things happen. Theyhave a positive restlessness that prevents them from being content withaverage.
A person with initiative acceptsresponsibility for his or her own life. Such a person authors their ownhistory. As Elbert Hubbard says, “The world bestows its prizes, bothits money and honors, on one thing and that’s initiative. What isinitiative? I will tell you. It is doing the right thing without beingtold.” Initiators incline themselves toward action.
Passion
Passion is a faultless predictorof success. How many high achievers lack enthusiasm? How many greatleaders do you admire who are indifferent? A dispassionate person willnot go far before they give up hope of achieving big dreams. On theother hand, a person of passion will move mountains to see their dreamcome to fruition. Passion long outlasts talent for a leader in pursuitof a vision.
When it comes to passion, thereare two kinds of people: fire lighters and fire fighters. Fire fightersfocus on what’s wrong with an idea rather than what’s right. Theypossess a doubting spirit, and they resist change. Fire fighters lovethe words “Yes, but.” They are always finding flaws, and they dampenthe fire inside of those around them.
Avoid fire fighters at allcosts, and instead, seek out fire lighters. Fire lighters areencouragers. They uplift and sustain others through tough times. Theyshare in triumphs, and spur others toward bigger and betterperformances.
Successful individualsprioritize their commitments according to their passion. They refuse tobe dissuaded from living out the dream inside of them. When troublescome, they don’t have to artificially generate perseverance—it sweepsover them like an ocean wave.
Courage
Courage is an every day test. Weoften think of courage as a quality required only in times of greatdanger or stress, but courage is an everyday virtue, needed to live alife without regrets. In the words of James Harvey Robinson,“Greatness, in the last analysis, is largely bravery. Courage isescaping from old ideas and old standards and respectable ways of doingthings.”
Plentiful reasons add courage tothe list of admirable qualities that exist apart from talent. We needcourage to seek the truth when we know it may be painful. We needcourage to change when it’s easier to remain comfortable. We needcourage to express our convictions when others challenge us. We needcourage to learn and grow, especially when doing so exposes ourweaknesses. We need courage to take the high road when others treat usbadly, and lastly, we need courage to lead when being in front makes usan easy target for criticism.
Perhaps Miguel Cervantes bestsummarizes courage: “He who loses wealth loses much; he who losesfriends loses more; but he who loses his courage loses all.”
Summary
There is no substitute fortalent, but there are several supplements that can transform evenmodest talent into greatness. Teachability, initiative, passion, andcourage are a sampling of qualities that endow talent witheffectiveness and spur average skills sets into extraordinary successstories. Don’t minimize talent, but magnify the qualities that canaccompany it, and build them day by day.
-Esse Quam Videri-