Some people make complicated things appear simple. Going into the situation in which they excel, they see patterns quickly. They then pursue the right strategies and deliver success.
Great educators share their knowledge in a way that is simple yet profound. Great athletes demonstrate grace under pressure. Great inventors produce breakthroughs that afterwards appear obvious.
Such people often demonstrate what appear to be paradoxes. They see the big picture and the small details. They do things slowly yet also swiftly. They appear to do things easily yet also effectively.
How do high performers make things appear so natural? The answer is:
“Because they work at it.”
This is true, but they are also using their top talents. They are in their element – at ease yet able to excel. Some people overlook their strengths because they find some things easy to do. It can be years before realising they have a gift.
Betty Edwards, for example, has helped millions of people to learn how to draw with her book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. As a child she got praised for her special gift of being able to draw.
At first she found it hard to understand her talent. She described this feeling in the following way.
“But in the back of my mind, I felt that the praise was misplaced. I knew that drawing was easy and that all anyone had to do was to look at things in that certain way.”
Looking at your own life, what is the specific activity where you make complicated things simple? How do you take these steps?
You may put yourself into situations where you feel calm, clear and able to get concrete results. You may gather information, see patterns and clarify the real results to achieve.
You may choose the strategy most likely to succeed. You may reach into your repertoire, apply the appropriate tools and keep doing what works. You then do whatever is required to achieve success.
How can you pass on knowledge about the activity in which you make complicated things simple? This may be a challenge – because what you do may seem natural – but have a go.
What would be the best vehicle for making this happen? You may prefer to run coaching sessions, lead workshops, give presentations, write articles, create a website, publish a blog or whatever.
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.
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