Lost talent
If most of the talent in the world is invisible, how do you start seeing it?
Most of the talent in this world goes under-appreciated.
Why? Because it takes a minimum level of knowledge or exposure of a craft to be able to truly appreciate the awesome and sheer skill of an expert.
Think about it.
How many of us have gone to museums and looked at paintings? Initially we’re filled with enthusiasm and awe, but after the 314th oil painting of the day we’re finished. Bored, restless, and more focused on the bathroom or the nearby cafe than the “masterpieces” in front of us.
But put a fine arts student in front of those same paintings, and things change.
They’ll be able to spend hours on each painting - commenting on the fine details, the change in stroke widths, the play of light and dark. They’ll get frustrated over our impatience, and will wonder why we can’t see what they see - while we’ll wonder what the hell they’re seeing.
The same is true in sport. A flurry of punches and kicks in an MMA fight may feel like blind swings to someone who doesn’t care for the sport. But if you ask a true fan, or better - another fighter, they’ll point out things you would’ve never noticed. They’ll see lines of power, the use of momentum, and positions of strength. They’ll notice when the fight starts turning, or when a player is about to start dominating.
What’s cool about this is that the novice and the expert are physically watching the same game, but are experiencing it entirely differently. It’s almost as if they’re watching different games, because in their heads - they really are. The expert is watching the game at another level than the novice.
The same is true in business. Watch a great salesperson at work, and you won’t even realize they were “selling” until they’ve closed. The charisma, fluidity, and empathy in the conversation becomes apparent only when you try to have a conversation like that yourself and realize how many times you’ve fumbled.
Once you notice this once, you start seeing it everywhere.
The true difference between “us” and “them” doesn’t become apparent until you try it yourself.
In this way, the top 1% and their capabilities are like a mirage. Without any knowledge of their craft, you feel like their powers are within reach. “How hard could it be?” “I’m sure I could do it to” are phrases that come to mind.
And as soon as you try, you realize the true depth of the distance between the two. And weirdly enough, the distance actually feels longer the more time you spend with the craft. It’s like an inverted U-curve.
- With no knowledge of their craft, you feel like what they can do is achievable.
- As you spend more time trying, your realize exactly how good they are, and how hopelessly far you are from them.
- But at some point, things start changing. With enough time, effort, and hours of deliberate practice, the distance starts closing again
- Until eventually, the people you looked up to become your peers and rivals.
(As I write this, I realize that this is partly a "skill version" of the Dunning-Kruger effect)
Now that might seem depressing, until you realize that there’s actually a really simple and beautiful solution to this.
Try lots of different things. Just do a lot.
Learn how to cook, paint, dance, box, swing, surf, swim, write, teach, sell, speak, sprint, climb, jump, code…the list is literally endless.
Every little bit of exposure to a new craft will open your eyes to a whole world hidden underneath.
Each act will elevate your appreciation of the world.
Life will get more beautiful just by the act of doing.
And eventually, the mirage will get closer.