Imagine a kid going out for a sports team. Every time they practiced a drill, the kid does well. The coaches are impressed, and as tryouts end they tell them, “you have a natural talent for this”. What happens next determines a lot. Does the kid hear this and invest in practicing even outside of practice times? Do the coaches invest in this kid's raw talent and help them develop to their greatest potential?
This was me as a kid. When I went to camps, joined rec leagues and school team, I was always told that I had talent. Coaches and people that I respected saw my raw talent, but it was my brother that invested in my potential at a young age. We spent hours outside of our house practicing. He rarely held back with me, and being 3 years older meant that I had to work for every basket I made. Blocking my shot was something that I think he secretly loved to do, but every time he did he would remind me, “If you can shoot over me, you will be able to shoot over any opponent you face". He believed in who I was and who I could become on the court. He even connected me with the junior high coach when I was in 5th grade. She brought me onto the team as the water girl and gave me the opportunity to be around the team, practices, and games. It fueled my passion for the game and the belief in my ability to play it well. The biggest leaps in growth came from when there was an added outside investment.
As Don Clifton and James Harter wisely noted, "Individuals gain more when they build on their talents than when they make comparable efforts to improve their areas of weakness." The power lies in recognizing and nurturing inherent strengths.
According to Gallup, individuals who develop their CliftonStrengths (formerly StrengthsFinder) are 6 times more likely to be engaged in their jobs and 3 times more likely to report having an excellent quality of life.
Investing in raw talent is not just a process; it's a journey of transformation. Increase Your Impact is here to be the catalyst in your growth story. We want to be the external force that partners with you and your team, helping you develop and reach your greatest potential.
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