We like to tell children (and ourselves) that they can be anything they want to be. Untrue.
You can become good at about anything, if you’re willing to work hard enough for long enough. But choose a domain where your genetics works in your favor if you want to excel in something.
Your ability to excel in a particular domain probably breaks down something like this:
50% genetics – your biologically innate capabilities.
25% how hard you work, consistently, to achieve levels of mastery.
25% enabling factors such as environment, teachers and mentors, and people giving you opportunities you couldn’t have engineered yourself.
Genetic distribution means that not everyone can excel in a particular sport or role that requires extraordinary coordination, strength, or endurance. Not everyone has the intellect to be a doctor or experimental physicist. Not everyone is wired to be an entrepreneur. Not everyone has a mind designed to find joy in spreadsheets or crafting poetry. Not everyone has mechanical aptitude. Not everyone can be an effective leader of complex organizations. We should be thankful for this!
History is replete with innate talent never used or fully developed. Significant and sustained work is required.
We like to think we did it all ourselves, but none of excel without enabling help from others. Excellence requires support, in all kinds of ways. Excellence is an outcome from association. Think carefully about your peers and associates. These people matter immensely on the journey to becoming a deeper person.
