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.
 +632 892 6703
 +63 908 880 4178
 leaders@chalre.com
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SuperAttainer:
John Morgan
Founder
of Morgan Stanley:
John
Morgan
Main
Life Accomplishments:
John
Pierpont Morgan was an American financier, banker and art collector who
dominated corporate finance and industrial consolidation during his time.
In 1892 Morgan arranged the merger of Edison General Electric and
Thompson-Houston Electric Company to form General Electric. After
financing the creation of the Federal Steel Company he merged the Carnegie
Steel Company and several other steel and iron businesses to form the
United States Steel Corporation in 1901. He is widely credited with having
saved or rescued the U.S. national economy in general—and the federal
government in particular—on two separate occasions. He bequeathed much
of his large art collection to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York
City and to the Wadsworth Atheneum of Hartford, Connecticut. He died in
Rome, Italy, in 1913 at the age of 75, leaving his fortune and business to
his son, John Pierpont ("Jack") Morgan, Jr.
Basics:
Born:
April 17, 1837(1837-04-17) Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Died: March
31, 1913 (aged 75) Rome, Italy
Nationality: American
Religion: Anglican/Episcopalian
Fields: Business
Main Accomplishments: American investment banker, art
collector, and philanthropist, considered by many the greatest financier
in the history of United States business. A private banker, Morgan raised
millions of dollars in foreign investment to help build railroads in the
United States and to help pay off the country’s enormous debt from the
Civil War (1861-1865). His greatest accomplishment came in 1907 when he
brought bankers together to stem a financial panic that threatened the
U.S. banking system. Growing concern with Morgan’s control of investment
banking, however, led the U.S. government to appoint a commission that
recommended the creation of a central bank, now known as the Federal
Reserve.
Chronology
of Life Events:
Apr
17, 1837
John
Morgan born in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
1871
His
started his own which
later became known as J. P. Morgan & Co.
1895
His
company became one of the leading financial firms in the country. It was
so powerful that even the U.S. government looked to the firm for help.
1907
The
company also assisted the financial crisis in this year.
Late
1800s
He
was criticized for creating monopolies by making it difficult for any
business to compete against him.
1860
Her
wife Amelia Sturges died a few months after their wedding.
1901
He
helped consolidate railroad industry in the East and formed the United
States Steel Corporation.
1911
The
government, concerned about Morgan had created a monopoly in the steel
industry, filed suit against the company.
Mar
31, 1913
Morgan
died in Rome, Italy. At this time of his death, he was hailed as a Master
of Finance and considered one of the country's leading businessmen.
Early
Life:
Morgan
entered banking in 1857 at his father's London branch, moving to New York
City the next year where he worked at the banking house of Duncan, Sherman
& Company, the American representatives of George Peabody &
Company. From 1860 to 1864, as J. Pierpont Morgan & Company, he acted
as agent in New York for his father's firm. By 1864–72, he was a member
of the firm of Dabney, Morgan & Company; in 1871, he partnered with
the Drexels of Philadelphia to form the New York firm of Drexel, Morgan
& Company.
During the American Civil War, Morgan was approached to finance the
purchase of antiquated rifles being sold by the army for $3.50 each.
Morgan's partner re-machined them and sold the rifles back to the army for
$22 each. The military knew it was buying back its own guns, so the
so-called 'scandal' turned out to be more about government inefficiency
than any chicanery by Morgan (who never even saw the guns and acted only
as a lender). Morgan himself, like many wealthy persons, including future
Democratic president Grover Cleveland, avoided military service by paying
$300 for a substitute.[1]
After the 1893 death of Anthony Drexel, the firm was rechristened J. P.
Morgan & Company in 1895, and retained close ties with Drexel &
Company of Philadelphia, Morgan, Harjes & Company of Paris, and J. S.
Morgan & Company (after 1910 Morgan, Grenfell & Company), of
London. By 1900, it was one of the most powerful banking houses of the
world, carrying through many deals especially reorganizations and
consolidations. Morgan had many partners over the years, such as George W.
Perkins, but remained firmly in charge.[2]
Morgan's ascent to power was accompanied by dramatic financial battles. He
wrestled control of the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad from Jay Gould and
Jim Fisk in 1869. He led the syndicate that broke the government-financing
privileges of Jay Cooke, and soon became deeply involved in developing and
financing a railroad empire by reorganizations and consolidations in all
parts of the United States.
He raised large sums in Europe, but instead of only handling the funds, he
helped the railroads reorganize and achieve greater efficiencies. He
fought against the speculators interested in speculative profits, and
built a vision of an integrated transportation system. In 1885, he
reorganized the New York, West Shore & Buffalo Railroad, leasing it to
the New York Central. In 1886, he reorganized the Philadelphia &
Reading, and in 1888 the Chesapeake & Ohio. He was heavily involved
with railroad tycoon James J. Hill and the Great Northern Railway.
After Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act in 1887, Morgan set up
conferences in 1889 and 1890 that brought together railroad presidents in
order to help the industry follow the new laws and write agreements for
the maintenance of "public, reasonable, uniform and stable
rates." The conferences were the first of their kind, and by creating
a community of interest among competing lines paved the way for the great
consolidations of the early 20th century.
Morgan's process of taking over troubled businesses to reorganize them was
known as "Morganization".[3] Morgan reorganized business
structures and management in order to return them to profitability. His
reputation as a banker and financier also helped bring interest from
investors to the businesses he took over.[4]
In 1895, at the depths of the Panic of 1893, the Federal Treasury was
nearly out of gold. President Grover Cleveland arranged for Morgan to
create a private syndicate on Wall Street to supply the U.S. Treasury with
$65 million in gold, half of it from Europe, to float a bond issue that
restored the treasury surplus of $100 million. The episode saved the
Treasury but hurt Cleveland with the agrarian wing of his Democratic party
and became an issue in the election of 1896, when banks came under
withering attack from William Jennings Bryan. Morgan and Wall Street
bankers donated heavily to Republican William McKinley, who was elected in
1896 and reelected in 1900 on a gold standard platform.[5]
In 1902, J. P. Morgan & Co. purchased the Leyland line of Atlantic
steamships and other British lines, creating an Atlantic shipping combine,
the International Mercantile Marine Company, which eventually became the
owner of White Star Line, builder and operator of RMS Titanic.
Wife
Background:
Amelia
Sturgis first wife of John Morgan died a few months after their wedding in
1860.
Frances
Louise Tracy, daughter of Charles Tracy and Louisa Kirkland, on 3 May
1865. (Frances Louise Tracy was born in 1842 and died in 1924.)
Father
Background:
Junius
Spencer Morgan, (banker, b. 1813, d. 1890)
As
the only son of insurance magnate Joseph Morgan, Junius Spencer Morgan
inherited about $3M. He joined a family-controlled banking business at the
age of 21, but left after less than two years to become junior partner in
a dry goods business, and eventually became one of America's leading
suppliers of such merchandise. In 1854 he became a partner in George
Peabody's banking enterprise in London, which became Peabody & Morgan.
When Peabody retired ten years later Morgan assumed control of the
business, renaming it J. S. Morgan and Company and building it into one of
the world's foremost financial concerns. He married the daughter of poet
John Pierpont, and left more than $10M to his son, the railroad baron J.
Pierpont Morgan.
Mother
Background:
Juliet
Pierpont Morgan, mother of John Morgan.
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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