I recently was requested to create a discussion about how important is talent. I wrote about this few years ago but I’m updating the article to reengage this topic.
When I visited the Bay Area many years ago I had a chat about what talent means with Sean O’Neill, a leader of the field in table tennis. The question was raised: what matters most to become an elite table tennis player, talent or personality traits?
Sean stated, “As a coach, I focus on gritty skill sets, talent is useless and often counterproductive.” Sean looks for certain personality traits and the first thing that he does with a potential student is to sit down with them and with the parents for 1.5 hours to discuss the student’s motivation and to see the larger picture.
I believe that everything starts with a coach or teacher because it has a huge impact on a kid’s life. When coaching sports for kids in their early childhood we educate them not just about the sport but also building up their character. Kids can learn so many different skills through sports and most importantly how to have grit.
My first coach was all about having fun and he was really cheerful. In my opinion, the most important thing when we start teaching a young kid is to have fun and make them love the sport. Then we can focus on techniques and teaching discipline. I believe that we need a motivated kid to create the appropriate circumstances to empower and to bring out their best. This can only be accomplished if we cooperatively work together with the parents.
We concluded that personality traits, parents and practice hours matter the most.
Here are some of the takeaways from my conversation with Sean:
- 10,000 hours gets you to the starting line.
- Hard work can beat talent if talent doesn’t work hard.
- Focus on the fun part when you start teaching a really young kid.
- Motivation and passion matter the most in the long run.
- It’s crucial to work with the parents and be on the same page.
- Understanding cultural differences is very important.
- Create an optimal motivation climate that empowers the athletes and matches their temperament.
Share your comments and email me if you have any questions. Be a Champ For Life!