CONTENTS Acknowledgments . x WHEN Is TALENT ALONE ENOUGH? 1 1. BELIEF LIFTS YOUR TALENT 11 It's called the guarantee. At the time, many people said it was just big talk. Not true. It was a mark of the confidence possessed by the person who uttered it. That strong sense of belief made him a legend and his team members champions. What could it do for you? 2. PASSION ENERGIZES YOUR TALENT 31 Why would a barber receive a prestigious fellowship, be recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and be awarded an honorary doctorate? Hint: it has little to do with bartering and everything to do with his passion to change the world. 3. INITIATIVE ACTIVATES YOUR TALENT 47 No one can make the most of his talent in the midst of bureaucratic . red tape, especially in the fallout of natural disaster. Right? You might be surprised. Because of its initiative, this company was able - to do the seemingly impossible in a remarkable sixty-six days. 4. Focus DIRECTS YOUR TALENT 67 What do you get when you put two unfocused and inexperienced hunters in one of the most bountiful hunting regions in the world? Comedy.1 Learn where and how to focus your efforts so that you get much better results than these hunters did. 5. PREPARATION POSITIONS YOUR TALENT 83 How do you prepare for a trip to an uncharted area with unknown obstacles for which you must pack everything you'll leed for more than a year? That was the challenge for this great idventurer. He was successful. This chapter will help you to ie. prepared for whatever challenge lies ahead of you. 6. PRACTICE SHARPENS YOUR TALENT 103 Nobody gave Charles a chance. Even his own family expected lim to fail. But instead of letting it bother him, he practiced. Soon he became the best in the world at his profession. He's been :alled the first person to become a name brand. His secret can become yours. 7.PERSEVERANCE SUSTAINS YOUR TALENT 125 What do you do when a decade-old dream dies? That was the question for Vonetta. She wanted to quit, but how could she? >he placed her hopes in a new dream, and her perseverance took \er through to the highest level. Find out where it can take you. 8. COURAGE TESTS YOUR TALENT 147 His courage was legendary. Churchill stood alone against the Vazis and inspired a nation to stand with him during World War 11. His story and how he developed his courage as a ;young man may also inspire you. 9. TEACHABILITY EXPANDS YOUR TALENT 167 lie may have been the most talented person who ever lived. At ige tuienty'six he was recognized as a master. But even greater 'han his talent were his curiosity and teachability. Those qualities devated him from master to legend. Will they also elevate you? 10. CHARACTER PROTECTS YOUR TALENT 191 What is the greatest threat to your talent? Lack of resources? Training? Opportunity 1 No, lack of character. When this scientist cut corners and lied, he not only hurt himself-he let the whole world down. Learn how character can protect you. 11. RELATIONSHIPS INFLUENCE YOUR TALENT 211 He was a drug addict. He spent time in jail. Some thought he was a lost cause. But not this woman. She helped him turn his life around. All relationships influence our talent-one way or the other. Discover whether }our relationships are taking you in the best direction. 12. RESPONSIBILITY STRENGTHENS YOUR TALENT 235 Is there such a thing as too much talent? Can it lead to a person's downfall? Dan had a one-in-a-million athletic gift. But what hurt him wasn't too much talent-it was too little responsibility. Find out how to increase your responsibility to match the size of your talent. 13. TEAMWORK MULTIPLIES YOUR TALENT 255 To what does a world-class activist and rock star attribute his success? To the same thing that the best pilots in the world and the nation's top CEOs do. Teamwork! Individuals make it to the top only with the help of others. Learn how teamwork can work for you. THE LAST WORD ON TALENT 273 Notes HI About the Author 283