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
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SuperAttainer:
Joseph Lister
British Surgeon:
Joseph
Lister
Main
Life Accomplishments:
Joseph
Lister was an English surgeon who promoted the idea of sterile surgery
while working at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He successfully introduced
carbolic acid (phenol) to sterilize surgical instruments and to clean
wounds; as a result of his work in sterilisation, Listerine mouthwash was
named after him.
Basics:
Born:
April 5 1827 in Upton, Essex
Died: Died February 10, 1912 (aged 85) at Walmer, Kent
Nationality: England
Religion: Anglican, Episcopalian
Fields: Science
Main Accomplishments: Famous doctor from England of
Anglican/Episcopalian religion.
Chronology
of Life Events:
Apr
5, 1827
Birth
of Joseph Lister
1848
He
enrolled in the faculty of medical science
1852
He
initially studied the Arts but at the age of 25 became a Bachelor of
Medicine
1854
Lister
became first assistant surgeon to James Syme, at the University of
Edinburgh
March 1867
He
published a series of articles on the Antiseptic Principle of the Practice
of Surgery
1869
Lister
left Glasgow and continued to develop improved methods of antisepsis and
asepsis
1870
Lister's
antiseptic methods were used, by Germany, during the Franco-Prussian war
saving many Prussian soldier's lives
1877
He
was offered the chair of Clinical Surgery at Kings College
Oct
6, 1877
Lister
carried out the operation under antiseptic conditions
1883
Lister
was created a baronet and made Baron Lister of Lyme Regis in 1897
1891
Lister
saw the cumulation of his emphasis on the principle of preventative
medicine with the opening of the Institute of Preventative Medicine
1893
Lister’s
wife died
Feb
10, 1912
Lister
died
Early
Life:
Joseph
Lister came from a prosperous Quaker home in Upton, Essex, a son of Joseph
Jackson Lister, the pioneer of the compound microscope, and Isabella
Harris.
He attended the University of London, one of only a few institutions which
was open to Quakers at that time. He initially studied the Arts but at the
age of 25 became a Bachelor of Medicine and entered the Royal College of
Surgeons. In 1854, Lister became first assistant surgeon to James Syme, at
the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. The two became close friends and
Lister ended up marrying Syme's daughter Agnes, a member of the Scottish
Episcopal Church, leaving the Quakers, perhaps because his religion did
not permit marriages with non-members.
Wife
Background:
Agnes
Syme was the daughter of James Syme who worked at the University of
Edinburgh.
Father
Background:
Joseph
Jackson Lister, born January 11, 1786 in London, Lister was deeply
affected by the premature death of his son John in 1846, and thereafter
appears to have given up his optical investigations. Their youngest, and
for a long while only daughter left at home had married in 1858, and for
six years Joseph and Isabella had lived alone at Upton. Their son William
Henry died in 1859 after a long illness on a ship bound for Australia. His
wife Isabella, who had long been in poor health died in September 1864,
aged 72. Joseph’s remaining five years were lonely, although three of
the children lived nearby with many grandchildren, and he observed that
“ since his own great loss his friends and contemporaries seemed falling
like autumn leaves”. His chief pleasure during his final years was to
receive weekly letters from Joseph in Edinburgh, and to watch his son’s
advance and the progress of his discoveries.
He died aged 84 in October 1869 at home at Upton House, and was buried
along with Isabella his wife, in the Friends’ Burial Ground, Stoke
Newington, Middlesex.
Mother
Background:
Isabella
Harris, met Joseph Jackson at aged 22, the daughter of the school
superintendent, also called Isabella, a widow with six children. Isabella
junior taught reading and writing to the girls of the school for five
years, leaving in 1818 to marry Joseph Jackson Lister.
She
was then 26, and he was 32. After their marriage, they lived for three
years at Tokenhouse Yard, where his wine business was carried on, then for
four years at Stoke Newington. In 1821 Lister invested in a trading ship
commanded by his brother-in-law.
Isabella,
had long been in poor health died in September 1864, aged 72. Joseph’s
remaining five years were lonely, although three of the children lived
nearby with many grandchildren, and he observed that “ since his own
great loss his friends and contemporaries seemed falling like autumn
leaves”.
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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