Identifying
SuperAttainers
The
SuperAttainment Research Center is funding a multi-year study of high achieving individuals across a great variety of fields and geographies. The purpose is to determine key attributes indicating an propensity toward superior achievement that can be recognized by most people with experience managing other people.
The work is ongoing and is being expanded continuously.
The
SuperAttainment Research Center is an initiative to help people
in management positions identify high potential leaders and channel
them toward meaningful contributions to their organizations and to
society at large.
The
8 attributes of SuperAttainers listed below are considered some of
the
most common and easiest to identify when accompanied by other
aspects of career success.
8
Attributes of
SuperAttainers
1. Early Success
The Early Bird Gets the Worm…and Everything Else
SuperAttainers usually begin doing amazing things early in their life. In fields like music and sport, it has long been
understood that for a child to have a chance at greatness, he needs to begin around age 3 and then work at it for many years. In business and politics, unusual ability is also recognized early in a SuperAttainer’s career and is followed with many years of continued achievement. In the greatness game, it is the rabbit who wins the
race -- as long as he persists like the tortoise.
2. Contrarian
When in Rome, Don’t Do As the Romans
SuperAttainers generally think of themselves as different and apart from other people. They can often be described as rebellious and
disobedient by those who try to rule over them and are never willing crowd followers. Tremendous success seems to require doing things tremendously different.
Doing things a little better will yield results that are only a little better than others and this is not what SuperAttainers are interested in.
3. Conceited
The Pride Before The Rise
In order for someone to be thought of as great in the minds of others, he must first be thought of as great in his own mind. The tremendous achievements of SuperAttainers seem to be merely a realization in the outer world of what is already in their inner world. Predictably, it is uncommon for such people to be overly shy about describing their abundant abilities. Many SuperAttainers have come to recognize that being known as arrogant does not help their purpose and they do a good job of appearing modest. However, a bit of digging into their personality should uncover a deep feeling of self-significance.
4. Hard-Knocked
Nothing Succeeds Like Suffering
SuperAttainers have often experienced traumatic periods when their careers or even their lives were in great peril. It is during these times that they gain a deep seated feeling of personal vulnerability that can stay with them for the rest of their lives. The advantage to the future SuperAttainer is that they become consumed by the realization that they must accomplish all they can while they have the chance because it can all come crashing down at any time. It is a psychological condition that will drive them to greatness for
the rest of their lives.
5. Loner
One is Company, Two is a Crowd
SuperAttainers are often described by others as dreamers, outsiders, cold-hearted and similar labels often given to loners. They are comfortable spending long periods in the company of themselves to ponder, learn and envisage the future. Many develop a love of solitary activities such as book-reading early in their life. They are not usually enthusiastic participants in team activities except when they are
leading the group.
6. Mentored
& Motivated
Behind Every Great Man are His Parents
Parents often play
the key role in the cultivation and realization of SuperAttainers,
spending immense amounts of time and money to give their offspring
the skills, experiences and relationships required for immense
amounts of success. They tutor baby SuperAttainers from the crib,
send them to the best schools and put them in touch with the best
mentors. It has been shown that mothers, in particular, can play a
strong role if they are supremely confident in their son's innate
abilities and then take devoted and continuing action to develop
them.
7. Discontent
Patience is No Virtue
SuperAttainers have an abnormally intense need for continuous accomplishment. Success does not bring these people a sense of inner peace. There is always someone else to overtake or a higher target to aspire to. They are impatient, dissatisfied and edgy when not engaged in activities that lead to the fulfillment of their personal goals. They seem psychologically unstable in this regard compared with most people.
8. Promoted
Self-Flattery Gets You Everywhere
There have been many great people who have lived and died in the history of our species but nobody knows most of them because their achievements were inadequately documented. In order to be thought of as a great success by large numbers of people, someone needs to be a great success at publicizing the SuperAttainer. In most instances, it is the SuperAttainers
themselves who are great self-promoters. In other cases, another talented person takes on the critically important role.
TWO
TYPES OF SUPERATTAINERS
1. Aristocratic SuperAttainers
Pampered and pompous, these people excel despite having been given it all. They grow up with all the best things, attend the best schools and hobnob with the best minds. Because they are so deeply bonded to a powerful and privileged elite, they are often conservative and elitist. Real change seldom happens with these people in charge. On the plus side, they are less likely to lead themselves and their followers down paths of mutual destruction. Examples of Aristocratic SuperAttainers include: Winston Churchill, Peter the Great, Louis XIV and Frederick the Great.
2. Come-From-
Nothing
SuperAttainers
Rags to riches, these people pull themselves up to greatness through tremendous obstacles. Luck plays a role but most of their success is due to relentless force of character. Since they come from outside the establishment, they can be great agents of change. Unfortunately, they are prone to crash and burning when they inevitably overstretch themselves and their supporters. Examples of Come-From-Nothing SuperAttainers include: Joseph Stalin,
Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini and Mao Zedong.
Rules
for Managers
Rules
for Self-Help
Rules
for Parents
Men
Vs. Women
The
SuperAttainment Research Center is operated as a CSR
(Corporate Social Responsibility) activity of Chalre
Associates Executive Search to help business people identify and
develop future leaders for their organizations and society at
large.
Chalre
Associates is a regional provider of Executive Search services
in the emerging countries of the Asia Pacific region.
Multinational companies use them to bridge the gap between the local
environment and their world-class requirements in countries like
Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
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SuperAttainer:
Eli Whitney
Inventor
of the Cotton Gin:
Eli
Whitney
Main
Life Accomplishments:
Very
early in life he demonstrated his mechanical genius and entrepreneurial
acumen, operating a profitable nail manufacturing operation in his
father's workshop during the American Revolution. Because his step-mother
opposed his wish to attend college, Whitney worked as a farm laborer and
schoolteacher to save money. He prepared for Yale under the tutelage of
Rev. Elizur Goodrich of Durham, Connecticut and entered the Class of 1792·
Whitney’s cotton gin (1793), which revolutionized the way Southern
cotton was cropped and reinvigorated slavery ; and his interchangeable
parts, that would revolutionize Northern industry and, in time, be a major
factor in the North's victory in the Civil War.
Basics:
Born: December
8, 1765 in Westborough, Massachusetts
Died: January 8, 1825 (aged 60)
Nationality: American
Religion:
Fields: Science
Main Accomplishments: He was an American inventor of the
cotton gin.
This
was one of the key inventions of the industrial revolution and shaped the
economy of the antebellum South.
Chronology
of Life Events:
Dec
8 1765
Birth
of Eli Whitney
1792
He
prepared for Yale under the tutelage of Rev. Elizur Goodrich of Durham,
Connecticut and entered the Class
Mar
14 1794
Whitney
received a patent (later numbered as X72) for his cotton gin however, it
was not validated until 1807
1797
Whitney's
cotton gin company went out of business
1790s
Whitney
was on the verge of bankruptcy and cotton gin litigation had left him
deeply in debt
Jan
1798
Whitney,
who had never made a gun in his life, obtained a contract to deliver ten
to fifteen thousand muskets in 1800
1817
He
married Henrietta Edwards
Jan
8 1825
Henry
died of prostate cancer
Early
Life:
Eli
Whitney was an American inventor. He was born in Westborough,
Massachusetts, on December 8, 1765, the eldest child of Eli Whitney, a
prosperous farmer, and Elizabeth Fay of Westborough. Very early in life he
demonstrated his mechanical genius and entrepreneurial acumen, operating a
profitable nail manufacturing operation in his father's workshop during
the American Revolution. Because his step-mother opposed his wish to
attend college, Whitney worked as a farm laborer and schoolteacher to save
money. He prepared for Yale under the tutelage of Rev. Elizur Goodrich of
Durham, Connecticut and entered the Class of 1792.
Whitney
expected to study law but, finding himself short of funds on graduation,
accepted an offer to go to South Carolina as a private tutor. Instead of
reaching his destination, he was convinced to visit Georgia. In the
closing years of the eighteenth century, Georgia was a magnet for New
Englanders seeking their fortunes (its Revolutionary era governor had been
Lyman Hall, a migrant from Connecticut). When he initially sailed for
South Carolina, among his shipmates was the widow and family of
Revolutionary hero, General Nathanael Greene of Rhode Island. Mrs. Greene
invited Whitney to visit her Georgia plantation, Mulberry Grove. Her
plantation manager and husband-to-be was Phineas Miller, another
Connecticut migrant and Yale graduate (Class of 1785), who would become
Whitney's business partner.
Somewhat
ironically, Whitney's two most famous innovations would divide the country
in the mid-19th century:
The
cotton gin (1793), which revolutionized the way Southern cotton was
cropped and reinvigorated slavery ; and his interchangeable parts, that
would revolutionize Northern industry and, in time, be a major factor in
the North's victory in the Civil War.
Wife
Background:
Henrietta
Edwards, granddaughter of the famed evangelist, Jonathan Edwards, daughter
of Pierpont Edwards, head of the Democratic Party in Connecticut, and
first cousin of Yale's president, Timothy Dwight, the state's leading
Federalist. They have four children.
Father
Background:
Eli
Whitney son of Nathaniel and Mary (Child) Whitney, was born 3 May 1741,
Westborough, MA, and died 25 Aug 1807, Westborough, MA. He was born in
Westborough where he always resided, and was a farmer by occupation. When
the Revolutionary war broke out he was a member of the company commanded
by Capt. Baker and saw active service in the Westborough company. He was a
very large man, weighing nearly 300 pounds. Was a member of the church,
often held town office, and for years was justice of the peace. In his day
he was one of the prominent citizens in the town. He resided Westborough,
MA.
Mother
Background:
Elizabeth
Fay, daughter of Benjamin and Martha (Miles) Fay. She was born 9 Dec 1740,
Westborough, Massachusetts; died 18 Aug 1777, Westborough, Massachusetts.
SuperAttainer
ANALYSIS SECTION:
1. Early Success
When did the SuperAttainer first display ability
that was greatly above average and what were his accomplishments?
REFERENCES:
1.
2. Contrarian
What actions did the SuperAttainer take that demonstrated a mindset that was very different from those around him?
REFERENCES:
1.
3. Conceited
What are the actions and documented statements that exhibit an elevated sense of self importance of the
SuperAttainer?
REFERENCES:
1.
4. Hard-Knocked
During what events did the SuperAttainer experience personal misery and severe anxiety?
REFERENCES:
1.
5. Loner
Is there evidence of the SuperAttainer being comfortable spending time apart from others?
REFERENCES:
1.
6. Mentored & Motivated
Who was vital to developing the SuperAttainer and guiding his career and what significant actions were taken?
REFERENCES:
1.
7. Discontent
What evidence is there that the SuperAttainer was unsatisfied with even great personal accomplishment?
REFERENCES:
1.
8. Promoted
What actions or events were responsible for
publicizing the tremendous achievements and abilities of the SuperAttainer?
REFERENCES:
1.
Overall
Score:
x
out of 8 = xx%
PASS
SuperAttainer
Type:
Describe the factors in the SuperAttainer’s background to indicate
whether he is a Come-From-Nothing or Aristocratic type..
Conclusion:
Executive Search
& Management Consulting:
Chalre
Associates provides its Executive Search & Management
Consulting services throughout the emerging countries of the Asia Pacific
region with specific focus on Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam
and Singapore.
Regional
Managers use us to help bridge the gap between local environments and
the world-class requirements of multinational corporations.
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