In a blog post related to a person’s specialized gifts, adapted from his new book The Earned Life, the renowned leadership expert and bestselling author Marshall Goldsmith talks about talents, genius, and focus.
Goldsmith explores how we can work to develop specific talents, and use that same focus for our potential to grow and become fulfilled. He writes, “One-trick pony is a judgmental and denigrating term, referring to people who abuse a limited skill set, whether it’s the same predictable response to every situation or one slick move on the basketball court because they have no choice. It’s all they’ve got. Becoming a one-trick genius, by contrast, represents what we aspire to rather than what we settle for. We rummage around our toolkit, discarding the skills that lack the potential for excellence, and zero in on a talent we wouldn’t mind perfecting over a lifetime.”
Before his ill-fated invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin was considered a tactical master. But now he seems to have lost the focus needed to think beyond the echo chamber of his inner circle. Things have gotten so bad that just recently a military analyst on one of Russian state television’s most popular networks stunned viewers, and his onscreen panelists when he said that the conflict in Ukraine was deteriorating for Russia. This honest assessment is virtually unheard of in Russia. He said the situation would get worse, directly contradicting his narrative of Putin. Putin was supposed to be a master in the use of the military to build his dream of a former Soviet Union and to keep the public misinformed. Recent events disprove this.
In The Earned Life Goldsmith uncovers the source of today’s existential crises, including regrets that stem from choices that irrevocably alter our lives, reroute destinies, and haunt our memories. These are particularly timely themes today.
With Goldsmith’s book as a guide, readers can close the gap between what they plan to achieve and what they actually get done—even in a world full of inescapable unfairness and curveballs—and live an earned life that is fulfilling in the long run.
You can read Marshall Goldsmith’s blog here.
About MARSHALL GOLDSMITH
Marshall Goldsmith has been recognized for years as the world’s leading executive coach and the New York Times bestselling author of many books, including What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, Mojo, and Triggers. He received his Ph.D. from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. In his coaching practice, Goldsmith has advised more than 200 major CEOs and their management teams. He and his wife live in Nashville, Tennessee.
About THE EARNED LIFE
In THE EARNED LIFE (Currency Books), Marshall Goldsmith uncovers the source of today’s existential crisis: regret, the kind stemming from choices that irrevocably alter our lives, reroutes destinies, and haunts our memories—particularly timely themes as the pandemic and Great Resignation inspire people to seek meaning in their lives, get unstuck and make changes. With this book as their guide, readers can close the gap between what they plan to achieve and what they actually get done—even in a world full of inescapable unfairness and curveballs—and live an earned life too fulfilling to dwell on the “what ifs.”
If you’d like more information on Marshall Goldsmith, The Earned Life, and his work, please get in touch with Lyda Goldsmith.
