Discover a Fantastic New Book-
Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things
1-Sentence-Summary: Hidden Potential emphasizes that greatness isn’t limited to geniuses and superstars; anyone can achieve remarkable things by developing character skills, maintaining long-term motivation, and creating systems of opportunity.
Favorite quote from the author:
In 1991, a prominent chess team from the Dalton School won the US championships three consecutive times. Meanwhile, the Raging Rooks, a group of underprivileged students from a Harlem public school, faced a daunting challenge. They started strong but fell to fifth place. Coach Maurice Ashley motivated them, leading captain Kasaun Henry to defeat Dalton’s best player and secure victory. This inspiring tale illustrates the essence of Hidden Potential by Adam Grant.
As an organizational psychologist at Wharton, Grant’s insights have resonated with millions. In this book, he shifts the focus from innate genius to the importance of learnable skills and individual progress. By prioritizing growth, anyone can achieve their highest potential.
Grant identifies three critical components of unlocking your hidden potential: character skills, sustaining motivation, and systems of opportunity. Let’s explore one lesson from each component:
- Start before you feel ready to develop character.
- Recognize that progress can feel circular; persistence is key.
- Engage in ‘brainwriting’ for more effective group collaboration, compared to traditional brainstorming.
Ready to discover your inner potential? Let’s dive in!
Hidden Potential Summary
Lesson 1: Start Before You’re Ready
Grant distinguishes between ‘character’ and ‘personality.’ While personality reflects your natural tendencies, character embodies your ability to prioritize values over instincts. Essentially, personality is what you want to do, while character is what you choose to do.
To cultivate character skills, begin your journey even before you feel fully prepared. As illustrated by a graphic from Liz Fosslien, the longer you wait to feel comfortable, the slower your progress will be. Grant emphasizes, “You don’t need to get comfortable before you can practice your skills; your comfort grows as you practice.”
Methods to become a ‘creature of discomfort’ include:
- Experimenting with different learning styles to suit the task at hand.
- Pushing your boundaries and identifying new challenges along the way.
- Setting a target for mistakes to normalize failure as part of the learning process.
In high school, Grant took a bold step by showcasing his magic tricks to a Harvard alum, demonstrating that self-initiative can lead to unexpected opportunities.
Don’t postpone your aspirations. Start now, and focus on incremental improvements daily.
Lesson 2: Persist Despite Feeling Stuck
When working on a project, it’s common to feel as if you’re going in circles. Grant refers to this as “the roundabout path to progress.” Many significant achievements emerge later in life, but often individuals abandon their pursuits too soon.
Consider R. A. Dickey, a baseball player who spent years in the Minor Leagues. At 31, he began refining his knuckleball technique and, after practicing over 30,000 times, he signed a lucrative contract with the New York Mets at the age of 35.
Grant remarks, “The drawback of a compass is that it provides direction, but not specific paths.” Sometimes, retracing your steps is necessary to discover clearer routes, or consulting diverse opinions can illuminate solutions.
Life’s journey is rarely linear; it’s filled with unexpected twists and turns. If you ever feel stuck, persevere. You may be spiraling upward, even if it’s not immediately evident.
Lesson 3: Use Brainwriting for Better Group Collaboration
In 2010, when a mine collapsed in Chile, leaving 33 miners trapped, the rescue effort needed innovative ideas quickly. Instead of traditional brainstorming, André Sougarret, the operation leader, utilized what Grant calls ‘brainwriting.’ He collected submissions from various experts via a website and later invited those with the most promising ideas to discuss their feasibility.
This approach allowed quieter voices to contribute without being overshadowed by louder participants, ultimately leading to effective solutions. For instance, Pedro Gallo devised a simple communication device that later proved crucial in connecting with the miners.
Whenever faced with group challenges, encourage team members to generate ideas independently before convening. Use meeting time to evaluate and refine existing suggestions.
While not every problem is life-threatening, effective collaboration is essential. In the case of the miners, the coordinated efforts led to a successful rescue after 69 days.
Hidden Potential Review
Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things is a compelling blend of research, innovative ideas, and relatable narratives. Grant reminds us that “Potential is not determined by where you start but by how far you travel.” If you’re aiming to achieve more, this book is a great starting point. Other notable works by Grant include Give and Take, Originals, Think Again, and Option B.
Who Would I Recommend Our Hidden Potential Summary To or Purchase the Book?
This summary is ideal for anyone who feels limited by their circumstances, whether it’s a 35-year-old athlete doubting their potential for success, a marketing team struggling to achieve their goals, or an editorial department trying to write their articles. If you believe that talent is a barrier to fulfilling your dreams, this book is for you.
