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:
John A.
MacDonald
First
Prime Minister of Canada:
John
A. MacDonald
Main
Life Accomplishments:
He
was the first Prime Minister of Canada and the dominant figure of Canadian
Confederation. Macdonald's tenure in office spanned 19 years, making him
the second longest serving Prime Minister of Canada. He is the only
Canadian Prime Minister to win six majority governments. He was the major
proponent of a national railway, completed in 1885, linking Canada from
the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans. He won praise for having helped forge
a nation of sprawling geographic size, with two diverse European colonial
origins, and a multiplicity of cultural backgrounds and political views.
Basics:
Born:
January 10 or 11, 1815, Glasgow, Scotland
Died: June 6, 1891, Ottawa, Ontario
Nationality: Canadian
Religion: Presbyterian; later Anglican
Fields: Politics, Military
Main Accomplishments: He was the first Prime Minister of
Canada and the dominant figure of Canadian Confederation.
Chronology
of Life Events:
January
11,1815
John
Alexander Macdonald was born in Glasgow, Scotland
1820
After
the failure of Hugh Macdonald's business ventures, the family emigrated to
Kingston, Upper Canada
February
6, 1836
Macdonald
was then called to the Bar
1837
Macdonald
switched to criminal law for two years.
1843
Macdonald
entered politics, standing for the office of Alderman in Kingston, a
position to which he was elected.
1844
He
was elected to the legislature of the Province of Canada to represent
Kingston, gained the recognition of his peers
1847
Was
appointed Receiver General in William Henry Draper's administration.
1854
He
helped with the founding of the Liberal-Conservative Party under the
leadership of Sir Allan MacNab.
1857
Taché
resigned and George-Étienne Cartier took his place.
1858
The
Macdonald-Cartier government was defeated and they resigned as Premiers.
1862
The
coalition government was again defeated
1864
Macdonald
then served as the leader of the opposition until the election
1864
To
resolve the frequent legislative deadlocks in the Province of Canada,
George Brown, the leader of the Clear Grits (the forerunners to the
Liberal Party of Canada) and an extremely vocal opponent of Macdonald's
Conservatives, joined with Macdonald's Conservatives and George-Étienne
Cartier's Parti Bleu to form the Great Coalition.
September
1864
He
led the Canadian delegation at the Charlottetown Conference in
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, to present his idea to the Maritime
colonies, who were discussing a union of their own.
October
1864
Delegates
for confederation met in Quebec City, Quebec, for the Quebec Conference,
where the Seventy-Two Resolutions were created – the plan for
confederation.
1866
New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the Province of Canada had agreed to
confederation. Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island were opposed.
1866
In
the final conference of confederation held in London, England the
agreement to confederate was completed.
1867
The
agreement was brought to the British Parliament, which passed the British
North America Act creating the Dominion of Canada.
July
1, 1867
He
was subsequently knighted on Canada Day, the only colonial leader ever to
receive that honour.
July
1, 1867
Queen
Victoria knighted John A. Macdonald for playing an integral role in
bringing about Confederation. His appointment as a Knight Commander of the
Order of St Michael and St George was announced at the birth of the
Dominion
August
1867
An
election was held, which put Macdonald and his Conservative party into
power.
1870
Parliament
passed the Manitoba Act, creating the province of Manitoba out of a
portion of the Northwest Territories in response to the Red River
Rebellion led by Louis Riel.
1871
Britain
added British Columbia to Confederation, making it the sixth province.
Macdonald promised a transcontinental railway connection to persuade the
province to join, which his opponents decried as a highly unrealistic and
expensive promise.
1873
Prince
Edward Island joined Confederation, and Macdonald created the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police (then called the "North-West Mounted
Police") to act as a police force for the vast Northwest Territories.
1873
Macdonald
was accused of taking bribes to award contracts for the construction of
the railway.
November
5th, 1873
The
Pacific Scandal broke and Macdonald was forced to resign. Liberal leader
Alexander Mackenzie formed a caretaker government
1874
After
New Years, he Liberals called an election. Macdonald's Tories were unable
to recover from the scandal and the Liberals formed a majority government.
This election was also the first in Canada to use a secret ballot.
1878
Macdonald
was returned to power n the strength of the National Policy, a plan to
promote trade within the country by protecting it from the industries of
other nations.
1882
Macdonald
won re-election as prime minister again
1885
The
CPR was completed.
1885
Louis
Riel returned to Canada from exile in the United States, and launched the
North-West Rebellion in the territory of Saskatchewan, but now that there
was a railway through the area, militia were quickly sent to put it down;
troops travelling from central Canada reached the site in eleven days.
1891
Macdonald
won the elections again, but by this time, the 76-year-old political
warhorse started to feel the years of overwork, stress, drink and several
bouts of severe illness, including a gallstone problem in 1870 that turned
his office into a sick room for two months.
May
29, 1891
Sir
John A. suffered a severe stroke, which robbed him of the ability to
speak, and from which he would never recover.
June
6, 1891
He
died a week later at the age of 76
Early
Life:
John
Alexander Macdonald was born in Glasgow, Scotland on January 11,1815 at
4:15 (am or pm is not listed). His father was Hugh Macdonald, an
unsuccessful merchant, who had married Helen Shaw on October 21, 1811.
Together, they produced five children. The first-born, William died in
infancy. The next was Margaret who was followed a year and a half later by
John Alexander, then a younger brother, James, another brother Alexander
Ross who suffered from Mowat-Wilson syndrome, and a baby sister named
Louisa. After the failure of Hugh Macdonald's business ventures, the
family emigrated to Kingston, Upper Canada in 1820 along with thousands of
others seeking affordable land and promises of new prosperity.
Bad luck followed the family to their new country. When he was only seven,
Macdonald watched as his younger brother, James was struck and killed by a
drunken servant who was supposed to be looking after them. And, Hugh
Macdonald's business ventures in the Kingston area were scarcely more
successful than they had been in Scotland.[6] However, the family still
managed to scrape up the money to send Macdonald to Kingston's Midland
Grammar School where, according to biographer Donald Creighton, he studied
subjects such as Latin, French and mathematics. "Already he was a
voracious reader," Creighton writes, "and he would sit for hours
deep in a book, almost oblivious to what was going on." At 14,
Macdonald switched to a school for "general and classical
education" founded by a newly-arrived Presbyterian minister from
Scotland. It was one of the few schools in Upper Canada that taught both
boys and girls.
Macdonald's formal schooling ended at 15, a common experience at the time
when only the most prosperous were able to attend university.
Nevertheless, Macdonald later regretted leaving school when he did
remarking to his private secretary Joseph Pope that if he had attended
university, he might have embarked on a literary career. "He did not
add, as he might have done," Pope wrote in his biography of
Macdonald, "that the successful government of millions of men, the
strengthening of an empire, the creation of a great dominion, call for the
possession and exercise of rarer qualities than are necessary to the
achievement of literary fame."
Wife
Background:
Isabella
Clark (1811–1857) was the first wife of John A. Macdonald, the premier
of the Province of Canada in 1856 (after Clark's death he went on to
become the first post-Confederation Prime Minister of Canada). She was his
first cousin. She became ill after just two years marriage in 1845 and
died. Medical examinations concluded that she was suffering from a
somatization disease. They had two sons: John and Hugh; the former died at
13 months. She had also developed an addiction to opium mixed with wine.
Father
Background:
His
father, Hugh Macdonald, an unsuccessful merchant, came from Dornoch,
Sutherlandshire.
Mother
Background:
His
mother, Helen Shaw, came from a farming family of Inverness.
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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