Talent is never enough: discover the choices that will take you beyond your talent PDF
Preview Talent is never enough: discover the choices that will take you beyond your talent
Ta l e n t I s N e v e r E n o u g h This page intentionally left blank Ta l e n t I s N e v e r E n o u g h Discover the Choices That Will Take You Beyond Your Talent J C. OHN M AXWELL Copyright © 2007 by John C. Maxwell All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Thomas Nelson, Inc. titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail [email protected]. Published in association with Yates & Yates, LLP, Attorneys and Counselors, Orange, California. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Maxwell, John C., 1947– Talent is never enough : discover the choices that will take you beyond your talent / John C. Maxwell. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN10: 0-7852-1403-8 (hardcover) ISBN13: 978-0-7852-1403-8 (hardcover) ISBN10: 0-7852-8896-1 (IE) ISBN13: 978-0-7852-8896-1 (IE) 1. Ability. 2. Success. I. Title. BF431.M393 2006 650.1—dc22 2006024658 Printed in the United States of America 07 08 09 10 QW 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 TALENTISNEVERENOUGHIS DEDICATED TO JOHN PORTER MAXWELL, OUR THIRD GRANDCHILD. HIS READY SMILE AND DESIRE TO BE WITH PAPA AND MIMI HAVE STOLEN OUR HEARTS. WE PRAY THAT AS HE GROWS OLDER, HE WILL MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES ENABLING HIM TO BE A TALENT-PLUS PERSON. This page intentionally left blank C ONTENTS Acknowledgments x WHEN IS TALENT ALONE ENOUGH? 1 1. BELIEF LIFTS YOUR TALENT 11 It’s called the guarantee. At the time, many people said it was just big talk. Not true. It was a mark of the confidence possessed by the person who uttered it. That strong sense of belief made him a legend and his team members champions. What could it do for you? 2. PASSION ENERGIZES YOUR TALENT 31 Why would a barber receive a prestigious fellowship, be recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and be awarded an honorary doctorate? Hint: it has little to do with barbering and everything to do with his passion to change the world. 3. INITIATIVE ACTIVATES YOUR TALENT 47 No one can make the most of his talent in the midst of bureaucratic red tape, especially in the fallout of natural disaster. Right? You might be surprised. Because of its initiative, this company was able to do the seemingly impossible in a remarkable sixty-six days. 4. FOCUS DIRECTS YOUR TALENT 67 What do you get when you put two unfocused and inexperienced hunters in one of the most bountiful hunting regions in the world? Comedy! Learn where and how to focus your efforts so that you get much better results than these hunters did. vii viii h Contents 5. PREPARATION POSITIONS YOUR TALENT 83 How do you prepare for a trip to an uncharted area with unknown obstacles for which you must pack everything you’ll need for more than a year? That was the challenge for this great adventurer. Hewas successful. This chapter will help youto be prepared for whatever challenge lies ahead of you. 6. PRACTICE SHARPENS YOUR TALENT 103 Nobody gave Charles a chance. Even his own family expected him to fail. But instead of letting it bother him, he practiced. Soon he became the best in the world at his profession. He’s been called the first person to become a name brand. His secret can become yours. 7. PERSEVERANCE SUSTAINS YOUR TALENT 125 What do you do when a decade-old dream dies? That was the question for Vonetta. She wanted to quit, but how could she? She placed her hopes in a new dream, and her perseverance took her through to the highest level. Find out where it can take you. 8. COURAGE TESTS YOUR TALENT 147 His courage was legendary. Churchill stood alone against the Nazis and inspired a nation to stand with him during World War II. His story and how he developed his courage as a young man may also inspire you. 9. TEACHABILITY EXPANDS YOUR TALENT 167 He may have been the most talented person who ever lived. At age twenty-six he was recognized as a master. But even greater than his talent were his curiosity and teachability. Those qualities elevated him from master to legend. Will they also elevate you? Contents h ix 10. CHARACTER PROTECTS YOUR TALENT 191 What is the greatest threat to your talent? Lack of resources? Training? Opportunity? No, lack of character. When this scientist cut corners and lied, he not only hurt himself—he let the whole world down. Learn how character can protect you. 11. RELATIONSHIPS INFLUENCE YOUR TALENT 211 He was a drug addict. He spent time in jail. Some thought he was a lost cause. But not this woman. She helped him turn his life around. All relationships influence our talent—one way or the other. Discover whether your relationships are taking you in the best direction. 12. RESPONSIBILITY STRENGTHENS YOUR TALENT 235 Is there such a thing as too much talent? Can it lead to a person’s downfall? Dan had a one-in-a-million athletic gift. But what hurt him wasn’t too much talent—it was too little responsibility. Find out how to increase your responsibility to match the size of your talent. 13. TEAMWORK MULTIPLIES YOUR TALENT 255 To what does a world-class activist and rock star attribute his success? To the same thing that the best pilots in the world and the nation’s top CEOs do. Teamwork! Individuals make it to the top only with the help of others. Learn how teamwork can work for you. THE LAST WORD ON TALENT 273 Notes 277 About the Author 283
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