“Forget talent. If you have it, fine. Use it.
If you don’t have it, it doesn’t matter.
As habit is more dependable than inspiration,
continued learning is more dependable than talent.”
(Octavia Butler, American science fiction author, 1947 – 2006)
I remember Alan. In high school, he was an all “A” student, a star basketball player, and captain of the debate team – just to name three of his many accomplishments. We all thought he was just super smart – born that way and so lucky!
You undoubtedly have watched “Alan’s” in your life. They seem to have a natural flare for studies, music, art, sports, or even the dreaded public speaking. Their performance level is beyond superb, but it’s how easy they make it look that really mesmerizes us.
That ease is what gets confused with natural giftedness. But research doesn’t bear that out. Neither does reality. When we look at giftedness, we find other traits – extraordinary dedication, practice, and learning. Michael Jordan doesn’t just lace up and swish baskets. Shin Lim doesn’t just open a deck of cards and make magic. Will Smith doesn’t just instantly become the many characters he portrays.
Behind the performance is preparation. Behind the preparation is years and years of consistent, dedicated practice. And through it all, there is learning.
If there’s any natural talent that the standout stars have, it’s a love for the activity and a burning desire to do it well. It’s a passion that fuels a “get better” mentality.
And Alan’s secret? Play expert; then practice. For school, he played teacher and imagined what each one wanted students to know. Then he predicted test questions and studied the answers. For basketball, he “played forward” by watching the greats. Then he practiced their moves. It was all about earning from learning.
Turn yearning into earning from learning!
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