I just finished a book called “Talent is Never Enough” by John C. Maxwell while on a little vacation and found the message to be quite fitting for a quick lesson to coaches, players, and parents.  Too many times, we hear that a kid is a natural talent.  While coaching them, you may find that these are sometimes the toughest players to teach.  Why? Because talented people often think they know it all. And that makes it difficult for them to continually expand their talent. Teachability is not so much about competence and mental capacity as it is about attitude.  It is the desire to listen, learn, and apply.  It is the hunger to discover and grow. It is the willingness to learn, unlearn, and relearn.  Hall of Fame basketball coach John Wooden states: “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

The game we play is a test of attitude!  That attitude is the most important ingredient in understanding the process to improve our skill set, learning to make adjustments, maintain emotional stability, and improving our performance.  What are the ingredients that will allow us to maximize our talents?  John Maxwell gives some very good guidelines to discover the choices that will take you beyond your talent.

• Belief Lifts Your Talent
• Passion Energizes Your Talent
• Initiative Activates Your Talent
• Focus Directs Your Talent
• Preparation Positions Your Talent
• Practice Sharpens Your Talent
• Perseverance Sustains Your Talent
• Courage Tests Your Talent
• Teachability Expands Your Talent
• Character Protects Your Talent
• Relationships Influence Your Talent
• Responsibility Strengthens Your Talent
• Teamwork Multiplies Your Talent

If you take a look at the key words in these choices, I am sure you will agree with me that these are the same traits that separate the good from the great.  I can also say that these are traits that not only are important to players and are also commonly used in parenting, but these are the same buzz words that describe the best teams in our game.  We have all watched games where the most talented team does not always win.  If talent were enough, then the most effective and influential people would always be the most talented ones. But that is often not the case according to John Maxwell:

• More than 50 percent of all CEOs of Fortune 500 companies had a C or C- average in college
• Sixty-five percent of all U.S. senators came from the bottom half of their school classes
• Seventy-five percent of U.S. presidents were in the Lower-Half Club in school
• More than 50 percent of millionaire entrepreneurs never finished college

Until next month!

Coach Candrea