Are You A Genius Waiting To Be Discovered?

When you think of someone labeled as "genius" or "brilliant", don't you think of someone whose skills were early identified? Maybe someone who won the " gene-pool lottery"?

If you are like most people and your early talents weren't unanimously hailed, perhaps you have jumped to the conclusion that you are not "genius material."



If this is the case then I have some encouraging news for you. Neither did majority of the achievers I have interviewed!

In fact, I was extremely hard pressed to find any giants today who’s talents where hailed and wildly praised originally. Early on, most great achievers went either unrecognized or criticized for their ability.

Every extremely successful person I met told me the reason they’re more successful is that they’ve made more poor decisions that you have. You see , the real "genius" wasn't in their lucky innate genes, it was that they had the ability to get themselves to take consistent, directed and focused action again and again. Along the way through taking lots of action they made some bad decisions and had challenging experiences. But true achievers elect to get the fast education, and we all know we learn the quickest and deepest through experience and in particular failure.

Listen to Tony Robbins describe his success: “I became an excellent public speaker because, rather than once a week, I booked myself three times a day to anyone who would listen. While others in my organization had forty-eight speaking engagements a year, I would have a similar number within two weeks. Within a month, I’d have two years of experience. And within a year, I’d have decade’s worth of growth. My associates talked about how “lucky” I was to have been born with such “innate” talent” (Awaken The Giant, pg 48)

Furthermore, when I asked Lance Armstrong one of the greatest miracles of all time, “what would you say would be the one habit or the trait that you most have lived by that has contributed to your great success”?

What seperates great achievers is action!!

Lance responded: “Stubbornness. I was very determined. And I believe and most people will tell you -- I worked harder than anybody else in the group in the race. I say to myself, I've worked harder than anybody else and I deserve to win. Work hard and get what you work for”.

The truth, whether it was Lance or Tony, no one thought they were a phenomenon early on. No, no one took note until after they started producing results, winning awards, surpassing challenges. Only at the presence of this external winning did they then get the labels of "genius", "gifted" or a "phenomenon".

How would you feel if at the end of your life, you were told of everything you could have been and all the impact you could have made, ... had you just not hesitated...had you jumped in sooner...had you put in the extra effort...had you made the additional sacrifice?

Small consistent action, can accumulate to send our life on very distinct and powerful paths.

What can you do in your life and career to observe less and play more?