Hidden Potential
Introduction Similar to his book Think Again , Adam Grant's Hidden Potential challenges our self-limiting assumptions that greatness is mostly born, not made. When we assess potential, we make the cardinal error of focusing on starting points - the abilities that are immediately visible. In a world obsessed with innate talent, we assume the people with the most promise are the ones who stand out right away. However, high achievers vary dramatically in their initial aptitudes; hence, you cannot tell where people will finish from where they begin. With the right opportunity and motivation to learn (the initial scaffolding, which is later removed), we can all improve until we achieve great things. Adam Grant observes that admiring those with innate advantages - such as gifted students, natural athletes, and child prodigies - often leads us to overlook our own capacity for change. Remember, the early advantages of cognitive skills dissipate over time. By neglecting the impact of nurtu...