level of competence ( and insight ) such that people call you a genius . Focus plus daily improvement plus time equals genius . Understand that formula deeply and your life will never be the same .
Michael Jordan was a basketball genius . Was his spectacular success on the court purely the result of natural gifts ? Absolutely not . He took what nature gave him and ran the formula : Focus plus daily improvement plus time equals genius . He didn ’ t try to be good at five different sports . He didn ’ t scatter his focus . He just got devoted to being brilliant at basketball . And he was .
Thomas Edison registered a stunning 1093 patents over his lifetime and invented the lightbulb as well as the phonograph . ( A schoolteacher labeled him a slow learner when he was a kid ; he didn ’ t listen . Kudos .) He didn ’ t try to be a great merchant and a great poet and a great musician . He focused on his inventions . He improved daily . And he let time work its magic . Genius came knocking .
Makes me think of a story about Pablo Picasso . One day a woman spotted him in the market and pulled out a piece of paper . “ Mr . Picasso ,” she said excitedly , “ I ’ m a big fan . Please , could you do a little drawing for me ?” Picasso happily complied and quickly etched out a piece of art for her on the paper provided . He smiled as he handed it back to her , and said , “ That will be a million dollars .” “ But Mr . Picasso ”, the flustered woman replied , “ it only took you 30 seconds to do this littler masterpiece .” “ My good woman ,” Picasso laughed , “ it took me 30 years to do that masterpiece in 30 seconds .”
Focus plus daily improvement plus time equals genius . Understand the formula deeply and your life will never be the same .
Know what you can excel at – your genius . Discover your talents and then work like crazy to polish them . One of the most important of all personal leadership skills is self – awareness . Know what you are really great at . Reflect on those abilities that others admire in you . Think about those capabilities that just come easily to you – and then flow effortlessly from you . You might be a fantastic communicator or have a way with people . You might possess an extraordinary ability to execute and get things done . Perhaps your special talent lies in innovation and creativity and seeing what everyone else sees but thinking a different thought . Find your genius points and then develop them . Focus plus daily improvement plus time . Start today and in three to five years people will be writing about you . Calling you a genius . Celebrating your magnificence . And don ’ t worry – I ’ ll be one of them .
17 . Listen Twice as Much as you Speak
My mom is a very wise woman . As a kid , I loved to talk ( still do ). In school , I always did well academically but my report cards never failed to note my passion for vigorously exercising my vocal chords on a near –