It is amazing how many people attribute success to talent. I rarely hear it attributed to consistency of action. The concert pianist is so talented. Probably. I bet they also spent thousands of hours practising to build on that talent.
'Oh Joshua has always been good at basketball, he could just play' said my lovely mum when asked how I became a decent player. She didn't know I was listening, I remember feeling quite pleased that I was a 'natural'.
The truth of course was entirely the opposite. The mighty 'Slammers' (side note, what a hilarious name for a bunch of low vertical leap 10-11 year olds who couldn't throw the ball and hit the rim let alone dunk a ball) lost our first game 56 - 0. We scored once in our second game and celebrated like we won the title. Our first season was pretty much a continuous beat down of epic proportions. Second season, well we won 3 or 4 and lost 10. So we sucked. The lot of us. Doesn't exactly scream a bunch of natural talents does it?!
Eventually we would win most games, have some of the top players in the league and win awards. But in no way could we 'just play'. It was countless hours of training, failing, learning, coaching and competition. Then we started to get good. There are some universal truths. I think the following is a universal truth: When someone excels it is more comfortable for us to call it talent than recognise the consistent, hard work.
Being called talented in many ways isn't a compliment. It overlooks the consistent effort and ascribes the sacrifices made to good luck. There are times I have done this as a compliment and other times to make myself feel a little better about myself. If they just got lucky then I don't have to change.
If it was a fluke of DNA that they are talented and just good at something, I don't have to grow. Growth is a result of intentional action. Intentional action requires reflection and commitment. It is far easier to give the cheap half compliment than commit to growth or admit I don't want it.
When you are looking to hire - ask questions that give you an insight into consistency. A willingness to learn. If i can get someone who is willing to learn and will work consistently, they will be someone I can build a hugely profitable business with.
Every level you want to grow through personally or in business, will require more work, intentional application and the willingness to keep building over a long period of time.
Next time you compliment someone - do it wholeheartedly and compliment the consistency, the sacrifice and hard work. Talent is over rated.
So true! Sometimes recognising others hard work is confronting!