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

  • Everyone Needs To Train (and everyone needs a Coach!)

    I subscribe to a weekly newsletter from the Nightingale-Conant company.They, mainly, provide educational and motivational audio products. I have and listen to many of their programs. The newsletter that arrived in my Inbox Sunday night was quite interesting, specifically a table describing the ratio of training-to-performance for different professions/events: The point they were trying to…

  • Expose Yourself

    There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing. – Aristotle  *  *  * (No, not that way!) *  *  * Be willing to ruffle some feathers. Be willing to make mistakes and be judged by those on the sidelines. Be willing to feel a little bad, for a minute,…

  • Learners Are Earners

    Formal education will earn you a living, self education will earn you fortune. – Jim Rohn You know the quickest way to irrelevancy in the 21st Century? Stop learning. *  *  * The world is extremely connected and competitive and the pace of change is accelerating. You simply can’t finish school (whether it be undergraduate,…

  • Admire, and Create

    Admire Jesus’ compassion or the Buddha’s wisdom all you want, but what good can their qualities do you until you find them in yourself? – Byron Katie What’s so powerful about this quote is that it insists that you already have these good, admirable qualities within you. You may not be demonstrating those qualities to…

  • Gratitude is the Foundation

    Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but also the parent of all the others. – Cicero When we are grateful we create constructive, useful and, yes, positive, emotions. It is with these constructive emotions that we can move forward and take action. When we are grateful we focus on what we have already…

  • Take. Chances.

    Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is. – H. Jackson Brown, Jr. What stops you from doing something different? Something “scary?” I’m not talking about stupid risks that don’t have any personal meaning, but those things that you know will help you to learn, grow and prosper. What is…