Greatness is Created (from scratch, after much hard work)

I don’t normally include whole posts from other folks, but when I do, it’s generally from Seth Godin (Steve Chandler being the other common exception) (and this one is short… ).

The below reminds me of Carol Dweck‘s amazing work on Mindset.

According to Dweck there are some who believe that the gifts and talents you are born with are all you have (Fixed mindset) and that others say that we can grow our skills, abilities and capacity through intelligent and focused hard work (Growth mindset).

Thankfully, there is significant and compelling evidence for the latter.

But back to Seth’s post…

Take a minute, or 20, to really consider Seth’s brilliant and succinct words:

Actually, it goes the other way

Wouldn’t it be great to be gifted? In fact…

It turns out that choices lead to habits.

Habits become talents.

Talents are labeled gifts.

You’re not born this way, you get this way.

(Keep in mind, the “you-get-this-way” works both ways… if you practice not developing your gifts and continue to not-go-for-it you get more of that.)

Similar Posts

  • Some Thoughts on Forgiveness

    True forgiveness is when you can say, ‘Thank you for that experience.’ – Oprah Winfrey To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness. – Robert Muller When you realize you (can) grow from everything, you know the truth of Winfrey’s words. When you realize that…

  • How Is Your Speech

    Speech is the mirror of the soul; as a man speaks, so he is. – Publilius Syrus Language is everything to our lives. How we talk about who we are, what we want and what we get is so, so important. The question is: how is your speech? Do you build yourself up, or tear…

  • Manage The Manageable

    One of the greatest issues/problems/frustrations/cries/laments/ . . .  I hear is “I don’t have enough time” or “there’s too much to do” or “if only I had more time!” Well, I’m here to relieve you of any and all angst in regards to time and time management and whatever else you might want to call…

  • How Your Life Gets Better

    Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change. – Jim Rohn And change is hard. Change is easier, slightly, when approached authentically* and gradually.** Change takes hard work. Sustained, daily, hard work. Get started, now. The time is going to pass anyway, and you’re going to be doing something anyway. *…

  • Be Audacious

    Fortune favors the audacious. – Erasmus Even the smallest audacaities matter. Sometimes just doing something a little daring, a tiny bit bold, is what sets you on a path that changes your life in wonderful and profound ways. Don’t worry that your boldness seems small; all that matters is that you act.