I love the way John Maxwell presents his book, “Beyond Talent”. The language is simple and clear and the message easy to grasp. His book explains that having talent is not enough, you must work hard to develop your talent in order to become successful. The chapters each outline one of 13 factors to maximize a person's talent. Just reading the titles and blurbs of each chapter got me right there! I love the way he uses one main story per chapter to illustrate the lesson he brings out, it makes it so easy to remember and remind myself of this points. The topics covered are:
1. Beliefs lifts you talent. 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. 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. 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. 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.
5. Preparation positions your talent. 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. He was successful. This chapter will help you to be prepared for whatever challenge lies ahead of you.
6. Practice sharpens your talent. 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. 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. 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. 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?
10. Character protects your talent. 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. 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. 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. 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.
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