M
18
The Truth About Talent (When Genes
Matter and When They Don’t)
ANY PEOPLE ARE
familiar with Michael Phelps, who is widely
considered to be one of the greatest athletes in history. Phelps has won
more Olympic medals not only than any swimmer but also more than any
Olympian in
any sport.
Fewer people know the name Hicham El Guerrouj, but he was a
fantastic athlete in his own right. El Guerrouj
is a Moroccan runner who
holds two Olympic gold medals and is one of the greatest middle-distance
runners of all time. For many years, he held the world record in the mile,
1,500-meter, and 2,000-meter races. At the Olympic Games in Athens,
Greece, in 2004, he won gold in the 1,500-meter and 5,000-meter races.
These two athletes are wildly different in many ways. (For starters, one
competed on land and the other in water.) But most notably, they differ
significantly in height. El Guerrouj is five feet, nine inches tall. Phelps is
six feet, four inches tall. Despite this seven-inch
difference in height, the
two men are identical in one respect: Michael Phelps and Hicham El
Guerrouj wear the same length inseam on their pants.
How is this possible? Phelps has relatively short legs for his height and a
very long torso, the perfect build for swimming. El Guerrouj has incredibly
long legs and a short upper body, an ideal frame for distance running.
Now, imagine if these world-class athletes were to switch sports. Given
his remarkable athleticism, could Michael Phelps become an Olympic-
caliber distance runner with enough training? It’s unlikely. At peak fitness,
Phelps weighed 194 pounds, which is 40 percent heavier than El Guerrouj,
who competed at an ultralight 138 pounds.
Taller runners are heavier
runners, and every extra pound is a curse when it comes to distance
running. Against elite competition, Phelps would be doomed from the start.
Similarly, El Guerrouj might be one of the best runners in history, but it’s
doubtful he would ever qualify for the Olympics as a swimmer. Since 1976,
the average height of Olympic gold medalists in the men’s 1,500-meter run
is five feet, ten inches. In comparison, the average height of Olympic gold
medalists in the men’s 100-meter freestyle swim is six feet, four inches.
Swimmers tend to be tall and have long backs and arms,
which are ideal for
pulling through the water. El Guerrouj would be at a severe disadvantage
before he ever touched the pool.
The secret to maximizing your odds of success is to choose the right
field of competition. This is just as true with habit change as it is with
sports and business. Habits are easier to perform, and more satisfying to
stick with, when they align with your natural inclinations and abilities. Like
Michael Phelps in the pool or Hicham El Guerrouj on the track, you want to
play a game where the odds are in your favor.
Embracing this strategy requires the acceptance of the simple truth that
people are born with different abilities. Some people don’t
like to discuss
this fact. On the surface, your genes seem to be fixed, and it’s no fun to talk
about things you cannot control. Plus, phrases like
biological determinism
makes it sound like certain individuals are destined for success and others
doomed to failure. But this is a shortsighted view of the influence of genes
on behavior.
The strength of genetics is also their weakness. Genes cannot be easily
changed, which means they provide a powerful
advantage in favorable
circumstances and a serious disadvantage in unfavorable circumstances. If
you want to dunk a basketball, being seven feet tall is very useful. If you
want to perform a gymnastics routine, being seven feet tall is a great
hindrance. Our environment determines the suitability of our genes and the
utility of our natural talents. When our environment changes, so do the
qualities that determine success.
This is true not just for physical characteristics but for mental ones as
well. I’m smart if you ask me about
habits and human behavior; not so
much when it comes to knitting, rocket propulsion, or guitar chords.
Competence is highly dependent on context.
The people at the top of any competitive field are not only well trained,
they are also well suited to the task. And this is why, if you want to be truly
great, selecting the right place to focus is crucial.
In short: genes do not determine your destiny. They determine your areas
of opportunity. As physician Gabor Mate notes, “Genes can predispose, but
they don’t predetermine.” The areas where you are genetically predisposed
to success are the areas where habits are more likely to be satisfying. The
key is to direct your effort toward areas that both
excite you and match your
natural skills, to align your ambition with your ability.
The obvious question is, “How do I figure out where the odds are in my
favor? How do I identify the opportunities and habits that are right for me?”
The first place we will look for an answer is by understanding your
personality.
