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
|
|
SuperAttainer:
Vasco da Gama
Portuguese Explorer:
Vasco
da Gama
Main
Life Accomplishments:
He
was a Portuguese explorer, one of the most successful in the European Age
of Discovery and the commander of the first ships to sail directly from
Europe to India.
Basics:
Born: ca.
1460-1469, Sines, Alentejo, Portugal
Died: December 24, 1524 (aged approx. 54-64), Kochi, India
Nationality: Portuguese
Religion: Roman Catholic
Fields: Exploration
Main Accomplishments: Portuguese navigator and discoverer of
the sea route to India
Chronology
of Life Events:
1460
Birth
of Vasco da Gama
8
July 1497
he
fleet, consisting of four ships and a crew of 170 men, left Lisbon.[6] The
vessels were:
* The São Gabriel, commanded by Vasco da Gama; a carrack of 178 tons,
length 27 m, width 8.5 m, draft 2.3 m, sails of 372 m²;
* The São Rafael, whose commander was his brother Paulo da Gama; similar
dimensions to the São Gabriel;
* The caravel Berrio, slightly smaller than the former two (later
re-baptized São Miguel), commanded by Nicolau Coelho;
* A storage ship of unknown name, commanded by Gonçalo Nunes, later lost
near the Bay of São Brás, along the east coast of Africa.
November 4, 1497
The
expedition made landfall on the African coast. For over three months the
ships had sailed more than 6,000 miles of open ocean, by far the longest
journey out of sight of land made by the time.
December
16
Rounding
the Cape the fleet had passed the Great Fish River - where Dias had turned
back - and sailed into waters previously unknown to Europeans. With
Christmas pending, Gama and his crew gave the coast they were passing the
name Natal, which carried the connotation of "birth of Christ"
in Portuguese.
February
1498
Vasco
da Gama continued north, landing at the friendlier port of Malindi - whose
leaders were then in conflict with those of Mombasa - and there the
expedition first noted evidence of Indian traders.
20
May 1498
The
fleet arrived in Calicut Negotiations with the local ruler, the Zamorin of
Calicut, occasionally took on a violent nature.
August
29, 1498
Vasco
da Gama set sail for home
January
7, 1499
The
return trip across the ocean, sailing against the wind, took 132 days, and
Gama arrived in Malindi
12
February 1502
Gama
sailed with a fleet of twenty warships, with the object of enforcing
Portuguese interests in the east.
October
30, 1502
When
Gama arrived at Calicut, the Zamorin was willing to sign a treaty.
September
1503
On
his return to Portugal, he was made Count of Vidigueira.
Early
Life:
Vasco
da Gama was probably born in either 1460 or 1469, in Sines, on the
southwest coast of Portugal, probably in a house near the church of Nossa
Senhora das Salas. Sines, one of the few seaports on the Alentejo coast,
consisted of little more than a cluster of whitewashed, red-tiled
cottages, tenanted chiefly by fisherfolk.
Vasco da Gama's father was Estêvão da Gama. In the 1460s he was a knight
in the household of the Duke of Viseu, Dom Fernando. Dom Fernando
appointed him Alcaide-Mór or Civil Governor of Sines and enabled him to
receive a small revenue from taxes on soap making in Estremoz.
Estêvão da Gama was married to Dona Isabel Sodré, who was the daughter
of João Sodré (also known as João de Resende). Sodré, who was of
English descent, had links to the household of Prince Diogo, Duke of Viseu,
son of king Edward I of Portugal and governor of the military Order of
Christ.
Little is known of Vasco da Gama's early life. It has been suggested by
the Portuguese historian Teixeira de Aragão that he studied at the inland
town of Évora, which is where he may have learned mathematics and
navigation. It is evident that Gama knew astronomy well, and it is
possible that he may have studied under the astronomer Abraham Zacuto.
In 1492 King John II of Portugal sent Gama to the port of Setúbal, south
of Lisbon and to the Algarve to seize French ships in retaliation for
peacetime depredations against Portuguese shipping - a task that Vasco
rapidly and effectively performed.
Wife
Background:
His
wife is Caterina de Ataide
Father
Background:
Estêvão
da Gama (about 1430 – July 1497) was a rich Portuguese nobleman of the
15th century.
Estêvão da Gama was Alcaide Mor (civil governor) of Sines and Silves,
Officer of King Afonso V of Portugal, Comendador of Cercal, a member of
the Household of Prince Infante Fernando, Duke of Guarda and Trancoso, and
a master of the Order of Santiago.
By his wife, Isabel Sodré (of English origin, with links to the household
of Prince Diogo: Duke of Viseu, son of King Edward I of Portugal, and
governor of the military order Order of Christ), Estevão da Gama fathered
Paulo da Gama and Vasco da Gama, the discoverer of the sea route from
Europe to India that would permit trade with the Far East, without the use
of the costly and unsafe Silk Road caravan routes, dominated by Muslims,
in the Middle East and Asia.
Estevão da Gama was initially chosen to lead the expedition to open the
sea routes to Asia, to outflank the Muslims, who then had a monopoly on
trade with India and other eastern nations. Having died in July 1497, the
command of the expedition was given to his son Vasco. It is also believed
that command of the mission was offered to Vasco's brother and Estevão's
oldest son, Paulo, but that he turned it down.
One of Vasco da Gama's sons, Estêvão da Gama, who would became the
Portuguese governor of India (1540–1542), was named after him.
Mother
Background:
His
mother name is Isabel Sodr.
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.
|
