02/07/2013
Book Review : John Maxwell 's ‘Talent is Never Enough’
1. Belief lifts your talent
According to Maxwell, the biggest barrier to success for a lot of people is their failure to believe in themselves. A lack of belief can act as an obstruction and limit us as much as real challenges – or lack of talent. Cartoonist Charles Schulz once said this: “Life is a ten-speed bike. Most of us have gears we never use.” Maxwell suggests that to take advantage of the potential we have we should have belief in our potential, belief in ourselves, and belief in our mission. He goes on to propose that belief determines expectations, expectations determine actions and actions determine results.
2. Passion energises
Maxwell describes passion as the ‘fuel’ which energises talent and drives people to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. He suggests adopting some principles to bring passion to life. First, align your life to what you are passionate about. Second, do not spend time on things that you are not very good at or do not like doing. And spend time with positive people rather than those who only focus on the negative.
3. Initiative activates
Successful people take initiative rather than putting problems in a cupboard and waiting for them to go away. However, successful people do not only initiate; they also follow through. The easiest way to control fear of failure or address a problem is to take action. Anyone who does not take action is almost guaranteed to fail.
4. Focus directs
Focus does not come naturally to most people. A lack of focus drains energy from achieving results. Among other things, to improve our focus Maxwell suggests we: try to make every action count; know what we want to do and where we want to go; do not let yesterday take up too much of today and that we focus on results. “Focus on strengths, not weaknesses,” he reiterates. And I agree – isn’t there an old saying that goes “if you chase two rabbits, both will escape.”
5. Preparation positions
Preparation can often make the difference between winning and losing. According to Maxwell, successful people who prepare well live by one motto. And that is “all’s well that begins well.” In contrast, unprepared people are what he calls “out of position.”
6. Practice sharpens
The belief that highly talented people are born is a myth. Successful people reach their potential through practice, practice, and more practice. Practice demonstrates and builds commitment; acknowledges that performance can always be improved and flourishes with experimentation. It begins with small things, can produce big results and is necessary to progress. Consistent good practice leads to consistent good play. Gary Player, a top golfer once said “the more I practice, the luckier I get”.
7. Perseverance sustains
There is no success without perseverance, regardless of how much talent an individual has. Developing perseverance requires firstly finding a purpose. Developing perseverance also requires removing excuses and taking responsibility for our actions. And it is critical to develop stamina. Stamina is the key to perseverance and perseverance is the key to becoming a successful person.
8. Courage tests
Maxwell points out that you do not have to possess great talent to become a person of courage. Instead, he suggests that being courageous requires being willing to trade what seems good at the moment for what is best for one’s potential. Courage is not something we do only during times of extreme danger and stress. Rather, it is something that is tested daily in small ways.
9. Teachability expands
Whereas some highly talented people sometimes think they know it all, others have attitudes of teachability. Leonardo da Vinci is an example of an extremely talented person who was very teachable, continuously discovering and learning new skills. Instead of being a master at only one thing like painting, he became equally brilliant as a sculptor, a scientist, and an engineer.
10. Character protects
Maxwell suggests that character can protect and preserve talent. It can prevent talented people from feeling superior and taking shortcuts. He identifies four elements which comprise character
1) self discipline
2) core values that guide every day
3) a sense of identity
4) integrity
When defining character, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. posed the following sequence: Cowardice asks the question: is it safe? Consensus asks the question: is it popular? Character asks: is it right?
11. Relationships influence
According to Maxwell, relationships influence talent more than anything else. Relationships require energy, and can work as either positive or negative forces in lives. They can make people feel better or worse about themselves, and can either inspire us, or drain us. Some relationships are pivotal, and change the course of lives. To become successful in the area of relationships, Maxwell suggests the following: identify the most important people in one’s life; assess whether these people provide a positive direction and if these people are not a positive influence, make new friends.
12. Responsibility strengthens
Practising responsibility adds discipline and strength. People who do not take on responsibility will never realise their potential. He suggests that you should start taking on responsibility at the place and level where you are, but do not take on more than is manageable. Also stated clearly is that you need to choose friends wisely. It is impossible to be responsible among irresponsible people. Do not blame others. When making a mistake, do not make excuses but try to do better the next time. Make tough decisions and stand by them.
13. Teamwork multiplies
Maxwell suggests that the best way to compensate for our own weaknesses is to create partnerships with those who are strong in those areas. Teamwork allows people to do things they could not do otherwise, and has an intense effect on talent. Successful people find the right places on the right teams. They know that everyone on the team is important, and understand that performing at the highest level requires being part of a team. Teamwork divides the effort and multiplies the effect; teams simply are able to do more than an individual. Teamwork wins “championships” instead of merely winning “games”. It creates community, is bonded by trust and able to resolve conflict and it adds value to the individuals on the team.
