The Keep-Getting-Better-Focus N° 5

Exec
Talents
Coaching.

A famous (and, of course, very talented) pianist, looking back at his life, once said: Sometimes I wished I hadn’t had so much talent. This way I might have earlier started serious practicing. And I might have earlier been able playing as good as I had the talent to play. Not just technically flawless, at times even brilliant. But playing with a heart. With a soul. While wrestling with adversities, troubles, weaknesses. I would have earlier been not just a good musician but a true human being: In need. In search. Suffering, not merely triumphant. And having something to tell about it. — That’s it: Talent is forceful, enabling, empowering. But also: Hindering. Plus – and very different from what some talents think – it’s hard work. Even more: It’s an obligation for hard work. It needs care, tending, pruning. It needs humbleness, self-reflexion, understanding.

So, talents, come on: Don’t waste your talent (and time) – grab yourself a good coach. To grow as good (a human being) as you have it in you to be.

Two Thornton Wilder sentences, from his novel »The Eighth Day«:

// There are few things so conducive to despair as seeing the recurrence of weaknesses in us; it enables us to read the future. //

// They were accustomed to being desired; it was something new having to listen. //

Thornton Wilder (1897–1975)
American Writer — From his 1967 Award Winning Novel »The Eighth Day«

Immer besser werden: Fokus N° 5

Exec
Talents
Coaching.

Wir haben einmal einen sehr talentierten (und sehr bekannten) Pianisten sagen hören (im hohen Alter, auf sein Leben und seinen Erfolg zurückblickend): Es wäre ihm manchmal lieber gewesen, hätte er nicht so viel Talent gehabt. Er hätte dann vielleicht früher angefangen, wirklich zu üben. Und es wäre ihm dann vielleicht früher gelungen, so gut zu spielen, wie er es als Talent hätte können müssen. Nicht nur technisch brillant. Sondern mit Herz. Mit Seele. Auch: Mit Not und Schwäche. Ein Mensch, der was zu erzählen hat. Weil er auch gelitten hat, nicht nur triumphiert. Genau. Talent ist gut, steht aber auch im Weg. Und macht viel Arbeit – anders als manche Talente meinen. Deshalb, Talents: Coaching. 

Zwei Sätze von Thornton Wilder, aus seinem Roman »The Eighth Day«:

// There are few things so conducive to despair as seeing the recurrence of weaknesses in us; it enables us to read the future. //

// They were accustomed to being desired; it was something new having to listen. //

Thornton Wilder (1897–1975)
Amerikanischer Schriftsteller — aus seinem Roman »The Eighth Day«