There are
quite a number of people in the history of mankind that have contributed in one
way or the other by bringing a considerable improvement in the life of their
fellow human beings.
They are able to do this by possessing the ability and
wherewithal to discover the inner intellect others possessed and how these abilities
can be utilized in order to benefit their community, state, country or the
world at large.
The remark made
by Andrew Carnegie that he won his success based on the fact that he possessed the
knack and ability to pick the right men to handle any specific job to its
logical conclusion has known to be one of the classic speech ever made in
history. Augustus Caesar was also able to build up and extended the power of
the Roman Empire because he possessed ability to know men.
The careers
of Disraeli, Napoleon, Lincoln, Charlemagne, Washington as well as other empire
builders and saviours hold their places in history because they knew the methods
to be adopted to recognize, select and develop to the highest degree the
abilities of their co-workers.
These people of high integrity and accolades attained
their high station in the real sense of it largely because of their ability to
unearth men of genius. people like Theodore N. Vail, James J. Hill, Morgan, and
other builders of industrial and commercial empires worked tirelessly to lay a
very strong foundation by almost infallible wisdom in the selection of their
lieutenants.
The world of
sports has also made known people like Moran, Carrigan, Chance, Stallings,
while in the recent time people like Mourinho (the Special One), Sir Alex Fergusson,
Arsene Wenger (the Professor) are known for their special talent that make it
extremely very easy for them to locate the talented footballers that can
deliver at any particular point in time. These people shine chiefly because of
their keen judgment of human nature. Another known man in the history of
mankind that was known to possess this extra-ordinary trait of discovering
people with special abilities is Pericles in Athens.
If a supreme
judge of latent talent and inspirer of high achievement can thus always find
material ready to his hand, then it follows that humanity is undoubtedly rich
in undiscovered genius--that, in the race, there are, unguessed and
undeveloped, possibilities for a millennium of Golden Ages. Psychologists after
much findings have made us to understand that only a very small percentage of
the real ability and energy of the average man is ever developed or used.
"Poor
man!" says a reviewer, speaking of a contemporary, "he never
discovered his discoverer." The man who waits for his Pericles usually
waits in vain. There has been only one Pericles in all history. Great geniuses
in the discovery, development, and management of men are rare.
Most men never
meet them. And yet every man can discover his discoverer.
Self-knowledge
is the first step to self-development. Through an understanding of his own
aptitudes and talents one may find fullest expression for the highest
possibilities of his intellect and spirit. A man who thus knows himself needs
no other discoverer. The key to self-knowledge is intelligent, scientific
self-study.
In the year 1792, Mahmoud Effendi, a Turkish
archer, hit a mark with an arrow at 482 yards. His bow, arrows, thumb-ring and
groove are still on exhibition in London as proof of the feat. His prowess lay
in his native gift, trained by years of practice, to guess the power of his
bow, the weight and balance of his arrow, and the range and direction of his
target; also, the sweep of the wind. This he gained by observations repeated
until the information gathered from them amounted to almost exact knowledge.
Thousands of gunners to-day hit a mark miles away, with a 16-inch gun, not
because they are good guessers, but because, by means of science, they
determine accurately all of the factors entering into the flight of their
projectiles.
Discover yourself through self-assessment. This
will go a long way in telling you your capability, interest, values and any
other trait that will propel you to get to your dream without being
disappointed.
Thank you.
