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Summary

The web content emphasizes that possessing humility and coachability are key traits for top performers, both in sports and professional careers.

Abstract

The author reflects on extensive experience in sports and professional settings to identify the pivotal role of humility and coachability in high achievement. These traits enable individuals to acknowledge their limitations, accept guidance, and adapt positively to feedback. The article underscores the importance of maintaining humility even after achieving success and cautions against letting ego hinder personal and professional growth. Using the example of a basketball teammate named Anthony, the author illustrates the detrimental effects of rejecting constructive criticism. The article concludes with advice to embrace feedback and remain humble and open to coaching for continuous self-improvement and progress.

Opinions

  • The author values humility as a fundamental characteristic that signifies an awareness of one's limitations and a willingness to learn from others.
  • Coachability, the ability to accept and apply feedback, is seen as an essential complement to humility for personal and professional development.
  • The author is inspired by individuals who retain their humility despite achieving success, viewing them as exemplary models of sustained growth and performance.
  • Defensiveness and an inflated ego are considered significant barriers to receiving and benefiting from advice and guidance.
  • The example of Anthony serves to demonstrate that talent alone is not sufficient for improvement or success if one lacks the ability to be coached and to learn from mistakes.
  • The author advocates for subscribing to their email list and following their work for further insights into personal development and growth mindset.

99% of Top Performers Possess This Trait

Follow their lead

Photo by Adrià Crehuet Cano on Unsplash

I’ve spent thousands of hours playing sports and thousands of hours working with others in my career.

Over time, I’ve found one character trait that helps me determine who has a bright future ahead.

The vast majority of top performers I’ve seen possess this trait.

It’s all about the mindset

I’m calling it a trait, but it really comes down to two intertwined characteristics: humility and coachability.

Humility is crucial. Humility is knowing that there are others who know far more than you do. It’s about acknowledging your limitations and letting others help you out.

Being humble isn’t easy. Some people gain success and then lose the humility they once had.

But I’m most inspired by the people who have become successful and are just as humble as they were when they started out on their journey.

Coachability is closely related.

It’s about being able to take advice or guidance from others. You need to be able to take the feedback, both positive and negative.

Some people just can’t take feedback without getting defensive.

I’ll give you an example from my time as an athlete.

On my high school basketball team, there was one teammate named Anthony.

Anthony wasn’t the best player on the team. But in his head, he sure was.

According to Anthony, the other coaches just couldn’t see how great he was. He deserved to get more playing time.

He’d make mistakes in practice. Our coach would try to tell him what he did wrong so that he could improve.

Here’s how Anthony reacted: he shut down and didn’t take a word of the coach’s advice.

He gave our coach an attitude and acted as if our coach shouldn’t be telling him how to do things.

He got frustrated, angry, and defensive.

The kid’s ego got in his way.

Don’t be like that kid. He was delusional and never actually made progress.

Take the high road.

Learn from your mistakes.

Be humble and coachable.

To grow, you’ll need to receive feedback from others.

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Life
Psychology
Self Improvement
Growth
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