We each do our own to perfection.
You Have So Much Potential
William Tincup, SPHR
If you were MENSA eligible, would you join the
organization?
For me, the answer is a resounding NO.
The main reason is… it would screw with me,
and it would hinder my ability to have relationships with
normal people.
See… normal people. WTF. If you’re smart, turns out, you
know it.
Having an outside, third-party objective organization
tell you that you’re smarter than everyone else would be crippling for me.
I’d rather be lucky than smart. Or both. Smarts alone
doesn’t mean anything.
If you’re smart, you still have to do something with
it—you have to channel it in some way.
Think about it for a moment… would the MENSA card in your
wallet help or hurt you?
This of course gets me into Gifted and Talented programs.
Okay, this is going to hurt for some of you people:
Enrolling your kids in Gifted and Talented programs is
freaking stupid.
I’m not saying you’re stupid… I’m saying the act of
enrolling them in these sham programs is.
Take a moment to let the rage set in. Okay, here’s why:
Little Jimmy is smart. On this we can agree. He probably got it from his
mother, by the way… but that’s another story for another day.
He’s smart. And, in his current academic situation, he’s
not challenged.
He’s running circles around the “normal” kids. I mean,
he’s got them working for him he’s so smart.
So you decide to rip Little Jimmy
away from Gen Pop and label him Gifted and Talented
for the rest of his life. Let’s stop here for a moment.
Getting your kids into Gifted and Talented programs is more about you and less
about your kids.
Truth hurts, but it’s the same reason you monitor Little
Jimmy’s playing time at first base.
You care; he doesn’t… he just wants to chew purple bubble
gum.
Let that sit with you for a moment. How much of this
(G&T) is really about Little Jimmy?
Gifted and Talented programs are currency that parents
use with and against each other.
My kid walked when he was 4 months old, my kid talked
when he was one month old,
my kid read the entire Bible over the summer, my kid does
advanced trigonometry for fun…
my kid is in the Gifted and Talented program at our
school. Game, Set, Match.
My kid is smarter than yours. Drops mic, walks off stage,
gets a Slurpee.
And this type of interaction happens more than you know.
Trust me.
So, why would I attack Gifted and Talented programs?
Well, really, I’m not… I’m commenting on parenting.
That aside, if Little Jimmy needs to be challenged then
find ways to challenge him or better yet…
get Little Jimmy to find ways to challenge himself.
Also, never label your kid smart or stupid for that
matter.
If they’re smart, turns out, they’ll know it soon enough.
They’ll also not be entitled.
Gifted and Talented programs come with an air of
entitlement.
You’re smart
enough to be in this program, you’re smarter than everyone else…
life should be easy… shit should just come your way. And,
as we all know, life don’t play that way. You have to work your butt off for
everything you get AND be lucky. Hashtag grindtime.
Which gets me to High Potential programs at worky work.
High Potential… High Performer… A Player… all those terms
are freakin’ stupid.
Again, if someone is lucky enough to be one of these
things… they tend to know it.
So, should we identify our most critical staff (define
that as you wish)?
That would be a resounding HELL YES. Should we find out
what makes them tick? Hell yes.
Should we provide whatever the hell they need for them
(and thusly us) in order to be successful? Hell yes. Should we put them into a
program and tell them how smart they are? F#$# NO.
These programs should be clandestine in nature. We know
who they are—they should never know. They should never think they’re the future
of the firm.
That’s for many reasons but here’s a few:
It sends the wrong message to the normal people,
The folks in the program will feel (rightfully so, I
guess) entitled,
and you might be wrong… they might not be the right
people to lead the firm in the future.
Let’s deal with last point for a moment. Just because one
thinks they are a good speller,
and you think they’re a good speller, doesn’t make them a
good speller.
Turns out, Microsoft Word makes them a good speller. I
jest of course.
The point being… these Gifted and Talented programs at
work are hopeful but often times
they get it wrong and unbeknownst to them… the ripples
are felt elsewhere in the organization.
Let’s get back to Little Jimmy. He’s smart. Hopefully
he’s ambitious, as well.
At work, you want to retain the services of Little Jimmy.
Fair enough.
As we all know… 80% of the value of a firm comes from 20%
of the work population…
and Little Jimmy is one of those dudes. Got it.
Then do your homework and be relentless in making sure
Little Jimmy has WTF he needs (compensation, perks, titles, staff, projects,
etc.).
No labels, no special treatment, no entitlements, no
butterfly effect (in case you got it wrong)…
just Little Jimmy adding value… and he’s probably pretty
happy to boot.
Silly side note for me:
The word “potential” is a teen and twenties term— it’s
laden with optimism and hope.
But once you hit the age of 30, the word “potential” is a
backhanded compliment.
Meaning, why the hell haven’t you reached your potential
yet? Are you stupid?
I thought you were in the Gifted and Talented program?!
Remember that the next time you use the word or the
phrase: You have so much potential.
Introduction
to Turbo Charged Reading YouTube
A practical
overview of Turbo Charged Reading
YouTube
How to choose a book. A Turbo Charged Reading YouTube
Emotions when
Turbo Charged Reading YouTube
Advanced Reading Skills Perhaps you’d like to join my FaceBook group ?
Perhaps
you’d like to check out my sister blog:
www.innermindworking.blogspot.com gives many ways
for you to work with the stresses of life
www.turbochargedreading.blogspot.com for extra TCR
information
www.happyartaccidents.blogspot.com
just for fun.
To
quote the Dr Seuss himself, “The more that you read, the more things you will
know.
The
more that you learn; the more places you'll go.”
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