Sometimes, I feel our most important role on the planet is spotting talent before it becomes obvious to the rest of the world.
Yes, there are professions built on talent spotting – venture capital, player agents and scouts in sports, hiring teams in companies. But, I think of it on a personal level. How good are we at spotting potential? Or, to phrase it differently, if we were to meet someone who had the potential to be the next Jeff Bezos or Bill Gates, would we know?
And, that leads to another intriguing question, do we even have what it takes to spot seeds of greatness in ourselves? Do we have a clear idea of what we are good at and what we aren’t? Logic would dictate that we might just be better at identifying special traits in others if we can do so in ourselves. Then again, maybe not.
If we care about making a dent on this planet, it is worth remembering that it need not only be due to what we directly do. If we can be of value to someone who goes on to build the Google of the next technology shift, that’s definitely another way to do it. But, that’s easier said than done. There always seems to be enough and more to deal with just to get our lives in order. Where do we find the time to look for others who’re making a difference and find the time to help them?
Maybe that’s where we start – by being available, by making the time and by being of help.
A Learning a Day 