Beyond Talent

Many people have talent, but there is nothing special about talent alone.

Everyone has talent of one sort or another. The trick is to develop and enhance your talents and maximize your abilities so you can reach your goals. You will accomplish more if you focus on improving your talents than you will if you worry about your weaknesses. Talent is important, but your life choices are even more vital. Talent-plus people make the right choices to enhance their talents and achieve their full potential.

To become a talent-plus person, develop 13 pivotal personal characteristics.

Consider these traits one by one:

1. “Belief lifts your talent” – To get ahead, you must have faith in yourself. Consider Joe Namath, the New York Jets’ quarterback who took his underdog team to the Super Bowl in 1969. Knowledgeable observers thought the mighty Indianapolis Colts would crush the Jets. But Namath, self-confident and armed with hours of studying his opponents’ game films, was having none of it. “The Jets will win Sunday. I guarantee it,” he said. Namath was right. The Jets won 16 to 7. How did they prevail and shock the...