Comments on: Identifying Talent: What Really Matters

By: Nick Crosby

Nick Crosby — Sat, 05 May 2012 10:23:26 +0000

Another set of fascinating comments and perspectives- thank you to all! I find those three questions “Why are you here…” etc. penetrating, useful and directing. A sort of deep practice Q&A before and after any session or activity.
And in terms of ‘trigger questions’ and stretch, I try and phrase the search for improvement/doings things differently with “What-if…” rather than the negative one often hears from advice givers “Why don’t you do this…” The ‘don’t’ to me flavours the feedback with a hint of condenscension or even mild astonishment that one has been slow to see the obvious course of action. Maybe that is being over-sensitive…but it works for me.

By: Anthony Hatton

Anthony Hatton — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 02:54:04 +0000

Thank you for your insights to this fascinating topic. I’ve long thought about similar things. I work with younger athletes a lot and i always look first for what i call juvenile traits of excellence. For example… leadership in older athletes is a valuable asset yet often difficult to assess in younger ones. The juvenile attribute i look for is enthusiasm in how they play their sport. Enthusiasm is infectious, goes hand in hand with better social skills (confidence etc..)

I look forward to getting your book.

By: Lisa Alloju

Lisa Alloju — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:35:59 +0000

Fascinating article and site! Looking forward to exploring it further.
Lisa Alloju

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:41:58 +0000

This is phenomenal! I enjoyed your book so much and your blog adds the glossy finish. Thanks for being in touch with your readers.

By: djcoyle

djcoyle — Wed, 26 May 2010 21:57:23 +0000

Good point about schools — stay up on that soap box! Here’s a piece that give a glimmer of hope: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/magazine/23Race-t.html?pagewanted=all

By: deb walsh

deb walsh — Tue, 25 May 2010 23:07:58 +0000

I so agree, Dan. I think the key in Slash’s case, and many successful artists like him, was his early and steadfast determination to self-actualize the dream/passion he had at a young age. He was so clear on his passion and purpose, that he did in fact visualize the eventual outcome. Part of the big problem with education today, and how it kills so much of this very passion, is its demand for outcome over process. If people can’t draw a straight line between Slash’s passion and some “job” or future outcome, they’ll discourage him from pursuing it. At least that’s what alot of adults do to young folks. And this in a time when whole brain thinking and creativity is being championed as the innovation drivers of tomorrow! (ok, off the soap box now)

By: Matthew P. Block

Matthew P. Block — Sun, 09 May 2010 02:59:13 +0000

“How do you get past the “usual” answers? What I mean is, how do you go beneath peoples’ automatic tendency to tell you what you want to hear?”

That’s a great question & I wish I had a one-size-fits-all answer. Personally, when I want to avoid peoples’ tendency to tell me what they think I want to hear in a particular instance, I’ll try to misdirect them as to what answers I might be hoping to hear. If someone can’t discern what answer you’ll respond most favorably to, their best bet is to just go with the truth.

Over the long term though, your answer to Carson’s question holds an answer to this one. A culture of enthusiasm & openness in a group or team will teach people that their honest unbridled input is valued & they’ll let down the facade. And if you can never seem to get to that point with someone, you’re probably not a good fit for working together over the long term.
Thanks for a great article on identifying some of the traits that can lead to amazing skill & talent!

By: djcoyle

djcoyle — Fri, 07 May 2010 22:37:04 +0000

Good question. Can this kind of passion ever be “facilitated” along? I’d say that it can’t be forced, but it might be helped along by two things. First, we can expose young people to a lot of different talents, to see what lights them up. Second, we can have a culture of enthusiasm and openness — the opposite of cynicism — where these kinds of loves can take root.

By: Carson Boddicker

Carson Boddicker — Fri, 07 May 2010 13:19:09 +0000

How does one facilitate this obsession, future vision, and attention to detail using “trigger words” and the like?

Can this even be done?

Best regards,
Carson Boddicker

By: djcoyle

djcoyle — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:51:23 +0000

Thanks, Matthew — great points and suggestions. Question for you: how do you get past the “usual” answers? What I mean is, how do you go beneath peoples’ automatic tendency to tell you what you want to hear?