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What do
"experts" know anyway?
By: Dr. Tony
Alesandra
A
number of the world's all-time great geniuses were at first thought to
be anything but gifted.
Einstein, we know, left school in Germany because of poor grades in
history and the language arts. The problem wasn't Einstein, of course,
but the type of learning he was forced to do, which required a lot of
rote memorization and very little of the problem solving he was good at.
We find an even better example of unrecognized genius in the case of
Emily Dickinson. Dickinson, now considered one of America's greatest
literary geniuses, died an obscure poet at 56. A handful of friends and
family recognized her potential, but Dickinson herself longed to be
known by the world.
In 1862 she wrote a letter to Thomas Wentworth Higginson, an eminent
literary man of this day, and enclosed four poems for his approval and
advice. Higginson was impressed with the raw power of her poetic
imagery, but didn't think her poetry was publishable. When he tried
adapting the poems to fit the florid, fancy style popular during the
day, Dickinson lost interest in the project and gave up. As a result,
only seven of Dickinson's poems were ever published in her lifetime -
five of them in her local paper.
When a cache of 1,700 poems was discovered in Dickinson's cabinet after
her death, ironically it was Higginson who published the first volume of
her poetry. Within a few short years, Dickinson's poetic genius was
being hailed within the most respected literary circles.
You may look at your own experiences in life and find a teacher, a
co-worker, a friend, a boss, or a spouse, who - for whatever reason -
can't seem to recognize the unique gifts or talents you possess. Maybe
your gift is hidden below a shy, unassuming exterior. Maybe you're not
in the right environment for it to shine. Or maybe it's still in the
infant stages of what it will become with a little extra work.
Or maybe, just maybe, your gifts are so innovative and ahead of their
time they can't be appreciated by those schooled in older, more
conservative traditions.
The point is, you shouldn't let a few people's "expert" opinions and
judgments crush your hopes and dreams and keep you from exploring the
full potential of your talents.
A better course of action would be to accept criticism for what it's
worth and continue sharing your talents with the world. Search for
trusted mentors and role models who can give you honest, positive
feedback to help you strengthen your skills while still being true to
your authentic style. Read books and take courses. Whatever you do,
don't lose confidence in your ability to master your skill. With time,
your talents can only get stronger. Besides, down the road, you may
finally meet someone who will recognize your talents and give you that
long-awaited opportunity to be noticed.
Sure, you may never be called a genius in your lifetime, but then again,
very few geniuses ever are.
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Dr. Tony Alessandra has authored 13 books, recorded over 50
audio and video programs, and delivered over 2,000 keynote speeches since
1976. If you would like more information about Dr. Alessandra's books,
audio tape sets and video programs, or about Dr. Alessandra as a keynote
speaker, call his office at 1-800-222-4383 or visit his Website at
http://www.alessandra.com
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