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Hidden Potential
ŷ Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Nonfiction (2023)"This brilliant book will shatter your assumptions about what it takes to improve and succeed. I wish I could go back in time and gift it to my younger self. It would've helped me find a more joyful path to progress."
-Serena Williams, 23-time Grand Slam singles tennis champion
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again illuminates how we can elevate ourselves and others to unexpected heights.
We live in a world that's obsessed with talent. We celebrate gifted students in school, natural athletes in sports, and child prodigies in music. But admiring people who start out with innate advantages leads us to overlook the distance we ourselves can travel. We underestimate the range of skills that we can learn and how good we can become. We can all improve at improving. And when opportunity doesn't knock, there are ways to build a door.
Hidden Potential offers a new framework for raising aspirations and exceeding expectations. Adam Grant weaves together groundbreaking evidence, surprising insights, and vivid storytelling that takes us from the classroom to the boardroom, the playground to the Olympics, and underground to outer space. He shows that progress depends less on how hard you work than how well you learn. Growth is not about the genius you possess-it's about the character you develop. Grant explores how to build the character skills and motivational structures to realize our own potential, and how to design systems that create opportunities for those who have been underrated and overlooked.
Many writers have chronicled the habits of superstars who accomplish great things. This book reveals how anyone can rise to achieve greater things. The true measure of your potential is not the height of the peak you've reached, but how far you've climbed to get there.
-Serena Williams, 23-time Grand Slam singles tennis champion
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again illuminates how we can elevate ourselves and others to unexpected heights.
We live in a world that's obsessed with talent. We celebrate gifted students in school, natural athletes in sports, and child prodigies in music. But admiring people who start out with innate advantages leads us to overlook the distance we ourselves can travel. We underestimate the range of skills that we can learn and how good we can become. We can all improve at improving. And when opportunity doesn't knock, there are ways to build a door.
Hidden Potential offers a new framework for raising aspirations and exceeding expectations. Adam Grant weaves together groundbreaking evidence, surprising insights, and vivid storytelling that takes us from the classroom to the boardroom, the playground to the Olympics, and underground to outer space. He shows that progress depends less on how hard you work than how well you learn. Growth is not about the genius you possess-it's about the character you develop. Grant explores how to build the character skills and motivational structures to realize our own potential, and how to design systems that create opportunities for those who have been underrated and overlooked.
Many writers have chronicled the habits of superstars who accomplish great things. This book reveals how anyone can rise to achieve greater things. The true measure of your potential is not the height of the peak you've reached, but how far you've climbed to get there.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2023
8000 people are currently reading
107576 people want to read
About the author
Adam M. Grant
46books21kfollowersAdam Grant has been Wharton’s top-rated professor for 7 straight years. As an organizational psychologist, he is a leading expert on how we can find motivation and meaning, and live more generous and creative lives. He has been recognized as one of the world’s 10 most influential management thinkers and Fortune’s 40 under 40.
He is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 5 books that have sold millions of copies and been translated into 35 languages: Think Again, Give and Take, Originals, Option B, and Power Moves. His books have been named among the year’s best by Amazon, Apple, the Financial Times, and the Wall Street Journal. His New York Times article on languishing is one of the most-shared articles of 2021.
Adam hosts WorkLife, a chart-topping TED original podcast. His TED talks on original thinkers and givers and takers have been viewed more than 30 million times. He received a standing ovation at TED in 2016 and was voted the audience’s favorite speaker at The Nantucket Project. His speaking and consulting clients include Google, the NBA, Bridgewater, and the Gates Foundation. He writes on work and psychology for the New York Times, has served on the Defense Innovation Board at the Pentagon, and has been honored as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He has more than 5 million followers on social media and features new insights in his free monthly newsletter, GRANTED.
He is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 5 books that have sold millions of copies and been translated into 35 languages: Think Again, Give and Take, Originals, Option B, and Power Moves. His books have been named among the year’s best by Amazon, Apple, the Financial Times, and the Wall Street Journal. His New York Times article on languishing is one of the most-shared articles of 2021.
Adam hosts WorkLife, a chart-topping TED original podcast. His TED talks on original thinkers and givers and takers have been viewed more than 30 million times. He received a standing ovation at TED in 2016 and was voted the audience’s favorite speaker at The Nantucket Project. His speaking and consulting clients include Google, the NBA, Bridgewater, and the Gates Foundation. He writes on work and psychology for the New York Times, has served on the Defense Innovation Board at the Pentagon, and has been honored as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He has more than 5 million followers on social media and features new insights in his free monthly newsletter, GRANTED.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,918 reviews
December 19, 2023
Everyone should uncover their hidden potential.
Certainly, discovering the hidden potential in others is more challenging.
Adam Grant has conducted research and identified methods to build character and create opportunities.
The book is filled with fascinating real-world examples, from Olympic athletes to classroom teachers, illustrating how these principles can be applied across various contexts.
By the way, I am also on a journey to discover my hidden potential.
Good luck to all of us.
Certainly, discovering the hidden potential in others is more challenging.
Adam Grant has conducted research and identified methods to build character and create opportunities.
The book is filled with fascinating real-world examples, from Olympic athletes to classroom teachers, illustrating how these principles can be applied across various contexts.
By the way, I am also on a journey to discover my hidden potential.
Good luck to all of us.
May 7, 2025
Edit (May 2025 reread): Even better the second time.
God, I love Adam Grant.
This book does exactly what it says on the tin: how to meet and extract your own hidden potential. We often get it wrong in evaluating what we and others are capable of, but through some really interesting examples, Grant will demonstrate how we can better meet goals, find fulfillment, and help others do the same.
I get it. From the outside (meaning the covers, titles) his books look like self-help books for people looking to climb the corporate ladder. DON'T BE FOOLED! Grant is an organizational psychologist but his observations and insights touch on every part of our lives. His books have - no joke - changed my life many times over. He did it again in this book. Later today, I'm going to be taking his advice about turning practice into play and taking focus breaks.
This was one of my favorite nonfiction books of 2024!
to hear more of my thoughts over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
God, I love Adam Grant.
This book does exactly what it says on the tin: how to meet and extract your own hidden potential. We often get it wrong in evaluating what we and others are capable of, but through some really interesting examples, Grant will demonstrate how we can better meet goals, find fulfillment, and help others do the same.
I get it. From the outside (meaning the covers, titles) his books look like self-help books for people looking to climb the corporate ladder. DON'T BE FOOLED! Grant is an organizational psychologist but his observations and insights touch on every part of our lives. His books have - no joke - changed my life many times over. He did it again in this book. Later today, I'm going to be taking his advice about turning practice into play and taking focus breaks.
This was one of my favorite nonfiction books of 2024!
to hear more of my thoughts over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
November 3, 2023
Adam Grant has been my favorite nonfiction author for several years now. His new book, Hidden Potential, delivers again and for me, was an excellent example of the right book at the right time!
This book highlights the character we develop when we’re willing to try new things, make mistakes, and start before we truly feel ready. It’s about our growth. The early chapters of Hidden Potential especially resonated with me, and so did the epilogue.
“Becoming a creature of discomfort can unlock hidden potential in many different types of learning. Summoning the nerve to face discomfort is a character skill-an especially important form of determination. It takes three kinds of courage: to abandon your tried-and-true methods, to put yourself in the ring before you feel ready, and to make more mistakes than others make attempts. The best way to accelerate growth is to embrace, seek, and amplify discomfort.�
Most of suffer from imposter syndrome at one time or another. As Adam points out, when we feel others are overestimating us, we’re often underestimating ourselves. “When multiple people believe in you, it might be time to believe them.�
Highly recommend � 4.5 stars
This book highlights the character we develop when we’re willing to try new things, make mistakes, and start before we truly feel ready. It’s about our growth. The early chapters of Hidden Potential especially resonated with me, and so did the epilogue.
“Becoming a creature of discomfort can unlock hidden potential in many different types of learning. Summoning the nerve to face discomfort is a character skill-an especially important form of determination. It takes three kinds of courage: to abandon your tried-and-true methods, to put yourself in the ring before you feel ready, and to make more mistakes than others make attempts. The best way to accelerate growth is to embrace, seek, and amplify discomfort.�
Most of suffer from imposter syndrome at one time or another. As Adam points out, when we feel others are overestimating us, we’re often underestimating ourselves. “When multiple people believe in you, it might be time to believe them.�
Highly recommend � 4.5 stars
December 11, 2023
I’m a big fan of Adam Grant’s work; I find that he’s both an engaging writer and brings forward a lot of interesting, nuanced analyses of existing research + his own in an accessible way. That said, I think that this book suffers from what many books in the genre suffer from: the people and examples that he uses to humanize research insights are mostly people like mountaineers in ill health who climb Everest, sports superstars, and the like. While I understand that these examples make for good writing and that the hyperbolic nature of their accomplishments drive his points home, it becomes tiresome and hard to relate. I’d love to see an edition of this book with the examples swapped out for the middle manager who made a big difference at their org, or the mediocre student who went on to become a partner at his law firm, or the meh yoga trainee who opened a studio that was super successful. The consequence, for me, of examples and stories that were so extraordinary was that I struggled to make the connection for how I could apply this knowledge to my own personal and professional life.
October 31, 2023
This is far out of what I usually read, but @sharonsaysso chose it for her book club, so I was looking forward to expanding my reading choices. And Adam Grant always has such great ideas via social media posts, I was interested in seeing his full work.
Overall I found it interesting, but none of it seemed like new information to me - more like interesting stories & studies to back up things I already knew.
Grant reads the audiobook, which feels like a long-form podcast, and there are quite a few differences between the audio & the hard copy - from what I experienced, I’d recommend the audio.
If leadership studies or growing yours or others� potential is an interest of yours, I would definitely recommend this. I think I’m just not his prime audience.
Overall I found it interesting, but none of it seemed like new information to me - more like interesting stories & studies to back up things I already knew.
Grant reads the audiobook, which feels like a long-form podcast, and there are quite a few differences between the audio & the hard copy - from what I experienced, I’d recommend the audio.
If leadership studies or growing yours or others� potential is an interest of yours, I would definitely recommend this. I think I’m just not his prime audience.
July 18, 2024
در کتاب توانمدی های نهان ، آدام گرانت نویسنده آمریکایی ، کوشیده دریچها� به سوی دنیای شگفتانگی� استعدادهای بالقوه انسان با� کند . برخلاف باور عمومی که موفقیت را وابسته به ذوق و قریحه ذاتی میداند� گرانت در این کتاب نشان میده� که هر انسانی، فارغ از پیشینه و شرایط، ذخایر عظیمی از توانمندیها� نهان در وجود خود دارد که منتظر شکوفایی هستند .
برخلاف تصور عام که اعتقاد دارد که رسیدن به دستاوردهای بزرگ، بیش از آنکه نیازمند تلاش فردی باشد، مستلزم داشتن استعدادی است که همراه فرد زاده میشو� ، گرانت معتقد است که این گونه نیست . آنچه در نهایت انسان ها را متمایز میکن� استعدادی ذاتیشان نیست. بلکه انگیزها� است که دارند.
در کتاب گرانت ، منش یا شخصیت نقش مهم و کلیدی دارد منش یعنی، توانایی انسان برای اولویت دادن به کارهایی است که احساس میکن� مهم هستند، منش یعنی چگونه فکر کردن ، احساس کردن و رفتار کردن در شرایط سختی و فشار .منش یعنی انسان چگونه رفتار می کند ، نه این که چه شخصی هست .
گرانت منش را قابل رشد می داند . او در ادامه ابزارهایی برای پرورش منش معرفی می کند .
اولین ابزار ، اشتباه یا اشتباه کردن است .
در دنیایی که غالباً بر کمال تمرکز دارد، اشتباه کردن اغلب به عنوان نشانه ضعف یا عدم توانایی تلقی می شود. با این حال، این دیدگاه نادرست نه تنها مانع پیشرفت می شود، بلکه پتانسیل عظیمی را که در اشتباهات نهفته است را هم نادیده می گیرد.
حقیقت این است که اشتباهات دروازه ای به سوی یادگیری و رشد هستند. آنها فرصتی برای کشف نقاط ضعف، اصلاح مسیر و ارتقای مهارت ها به انسان می دهند. با هر بار اشتباه انسان فرصتی برای یادگیری و بهبود هم پیدا می کند
رشد شخصی کلید بهره مندی از مزایای اشتباهات است. با پذیرش مسئولیت اشتباهات، تجزیه و تحلیل علل آنها و استخراج آموزه ها، می توان از آنها به عنوان پله های ترقی برای رسیدن به اهداف استفاده کرد. از نگاه گرانت ، هر موفقیتی ، حاصل زنجیره ای از تلاش ها، شکست ها و درس های آموخته شده است ، بنابراین به جای ترسیدن از اشتباهات ، باید آنها را در آغوش گرفت و ازآنها به عنوان فرصتی برای کشف ظرفیت های پنهان خود و شکوفایی به عنوان یک فرد استفاده کرد .
ابزار بعدی اسفنجی بودن را به طور خلاصه می توان ، توانایی جذب ، فیلتر و تطبیق پیدا کردن دانست . افراد اسفنجی مانند اسفنجی اطلاعات را جذب می کنند. آنها به دنبال دانش جدید، ایده های نوآورانه و تجربیات متنوع هستند. پس از جذب اطلاعات، افراد اسفنجی آنها را تجزیه و تحلیل، ارزیابی و طبقه بندی می کنند. آنها اطلاعات نامربوط یا نادرست را کنار می گذارند و بر مفاهیم و ایده های ارزشمند تمرکز می کنند. سپس افراد اسفنجی اطلاعات فیلتر شده را با دانش و تجربیات قبلی خود ترکیب می کنند. آنها از این اطلاعات برای حل مشکلات، ایجاد ایده های جدید و ارتقای مهارت های خود استفاده می کنند.
رها کردن کمال گرایی و ضرورت پذیرش نقص ها
در دنیای مدرن، کمال گرایی به یک اپیدمی تبدیل شده است. ما دائماً خود را با دیگران مقایسه می کنیم و به دنبال رسیدن به استانداردهای غیرقابل دسترس هستیم. این وسواس به کمال، می تواند پیامدهای منفی زیادی بر زندگی داشته باشد، پیامدهایی مانند استرس و اضطراب، ترس از شکست و ناکامی، کاهش عزت نفس ، عدم پیشرفت و از دست دادن فرصت ها.
اما چگونه می توان بر کمالگرایی غلبه کرد ؟
گرانت داشتن هدفی واضح ، دقیق و آشکار ، داشتن متر و معیار برای پیشرفت ، مقایسه وضع فعلی با گذشته خود فرد ، نه با کسی دیگر را از جمله راهکارهای غلبه بر کمال گرایی می داند .
گرانت سپس به مفهوم داربست یعنی ساختار حمایتی برای کمک به سازمان دهی ، آزمایش و ارتقا ایده ها پرداخته . او داربست را مانند حامیانی می داند که در مسیر پر پیچ و خم رسیدن به اهداف ، مسیر را برای انسان هموار و گام برداشتن را آسان می کنند. حضور این افراد در مسیر، مانند داربستی است که در سختی ها می توان به او تکیه داد . اما باید به خاطر داشت که این حمایت ها همیشگی نیست و همانطور که داربست پس از اتمام ساخت و ساز جمع آوری می شود، این حامیان نیز پس از رسیدن فرد به نقطه ای از بلوغ و استقلال، کنار او خواهند رفت.
در فصل پایانی کتاب، گرانت به موضوعی چالشبرانگی� پرداخته : قضاوت افراد بر اساس دستاوردهایشان. او معتقد است سیستمها� گزینشی فعلی که متقاضیان را بر اساس دستاوردهای گذشتهشا� ارزیابی میکنند� نقص بزرگی دارند. این سیستمه� افراد توانمند یا را که هنوز فرصت اثبات خود را پیدا نکردهان� ، الماس های صیقل نخورده ، نادیده میگیرن�.
او این سیستم ها را از آن جا که بر نتایج یا دستاوردهای نهایی و نه شرایط فرد ، عدم در نظر گرفتن مسیر طی شده، درجه سختی کارها و مسیری که افراد در زندگی طی میکنن� ناقص می داند .
گرانت پیشنهاد می کند که به جای تمرکز صرف بر دستاوردها، باید سیستمی را به کار گرفت که تواناییها� بالقوه افراد را نیز شناسایی کند. او این سیستم را سیستم کشف الماسها� صیقلنخورد� مینام�.
با وجود برخی نکات جدید و نگاه جالب گرانت ، کتاب او را نمی توان چندان مفید و کاربردی برای فضای منحصر به فرد ایران دانست . توانمدی های نهان همچنان فاصله فضایی میان ایران و سایر کشورهای جهان در زمینهها� مختلف از جمله آموزش، کارآفرینی و نوآوری را نشان میده�. این امر نشاندهند� نیاز مبرم به اصلاحات ساختاری و فرهنگی در ایران برای ایجاد بستری مناسب جهت شکوفایی استعدادها و خلاقیته� است.
برخلاف تصور عام که اعتقاد دارد که رسیدن به دستاوردهای بزرگ، بیش از آنکه نیازمند تلاش فردی باشد، مستلزم داشتن استعدادی است که همراه فرد زاده میشو� ، گرانت معتقد است که این گونه نیست . آنچه در نهایت انسان ها را متمایز میکن� استعدادی ذاتیشان نیست. بلکه انگیزها� است که دارند.
در کتاب گرانت ، منش یا شخصیت نقش مهم و کلیدی دارد منش یعنی، توانایی انسان برای اولویت دادن به کارهایی است که احساس میکن� مهم هستند، منش یعنی چگونه فکر کردن ، احساس کردن و رفتار کردن در شرایط سختی و فشار .منش یعنی انسان چگونه رفتار می کند ، نه این که چه شخصی هست .
گرانت منش را قابل رشد می داند . او در ادامه ابزارهایی برای پرورش منش معرفی می کند .
اولین ابزار ، اشتباه یا اشتباه کردن است .
در دنیایی که غالباً بر کمال تمرکز دارد، اشتباه کردن اغلب به عنوان نشانه ضعف یا عدم توانایی تلقی می شود. با این حال، این دیدگاه نادرست نه تنها مانع پیشرفت می شود، بلکه پتانسیل عظیمی را که در اشتباهات نهفته است را هم نادیده می گیرد.
حقیقت این است که اشتباهات دروازه ای به سوی یادگیری و رشد هستند. آنها فرصتی برای کشف نقاط ضعف، اصلاح مسیر و ارتقای مهارت ها به انسان می دهند. با هر بار اشتباه انسان فرصتی برای یادگیری و بهبود هم پیدا می کند
رشد شخصی کلید بهره مندی از مزایای اشتباهات است. با پذیرش مسئولیت اشتباهات، تجزیه و تحلیل علل آنها و استخراج آموزه ها، می توان از آنها به عنوان پله های ترقی برای رسیدن به اهداف استفاده کرد. از نگاه گرانت ، هر موفقیتی ، حاصل زنجیره ای از تلاش ها، شکست ها و درس های آموخته شده است ، بنابراین به جای ترسیدن از اشتباهات ، باید آنها را در آغوش گرفت و ازآنها به عنوان فرصتی برای کشف ظرفیت های پنهان خود و شکوفایی به عنوان یک فرد استفاده کرد .
ابزار بعدی اسفنجی بودن را به طور خلاصه می توان ، توانایی جذب ، فیلتر و تطبیق پیدا کردن دانست . افراد اسفنجی مانند اسفنجی اطلاعات را جذب می کنند. آنها به دنبال دانش جدید، ایده های نوآورانه و تجربیات متنوع هستند. پس از جذب اطلاعات، افراد اسفنجی آنها را تجزیه و تحلیل، ارزیابی و طبقه بندی می کنند. آنها اطلاعات نامربوط یا نادرست را کنار می گذارند و بر مفاهیم و ایده های ارزشمند تمرکز می کنند. سپس افراد اسفنجی اطلاعات فیلتر شده را با دانش و تجربیات قبلی خود ترکیب می کنند. آنها از این اطلاعات برای حل مشکلات، ایجاد ایده های جدید و ارتقای مهارت های خود استفاده می کنند.
رها کردن کمال گرایی و ضرورت پذیرش نقص ها
در دنیای مدرن، کمال گرایی به یک اپیدمی تبدیل شده است. ما دائماً خود را با دیگران مقایسه می کنیم و به دنبال رسیدن به استانداردهای غیرقابل دسترس هستیم. این وسواس به کمال، می تواند پیامدهای منفی زیادی بر زندگی داشته باشد، پیامدهایی مانند استرس و اضطراب، ترس از شکست و ناکامی، کاهش عزت نفس ، عدم پیشرفت و از دست دادن فرصت ها.
اما چگونه می توان بر کمالگرایی غلبه کرد ؟
گرانت داشتن هدفی واضح ، دقیق و آشکار ، داشتن متر و معیار برای پیشرفت ، مقایسه وضع فعلی با گذشته خود فرد ، نه با کسی دیگر را از جمله راهکارهای غلبه بر کمال گرایی می داند .
گرانت سپس به مفهوم داربست یعنی ساختار حمایتی برای کمک به سازمان دهی ، آزمایش و ارتقا ایده ها پرداخته . او داربست را مانند حامیانی می داند که در مسیر پر پیچ و خم رسیدن به اهداف ، مسیر را برای انسان هموار و گام برداشتن را آسان می کنند. حضور این افراد در مسیر، مانند داربستی است که در سختی ها می توان به او تکیه داد . اما باید به خاطر داشت که این حمایت ها همیشگی نیست و همانطور که داربست پس از اتمام ساخت و ساز جمع آوری می شود، این حامیان نیز پس از رسیدن فرد به نقطه ای از بلوغ و استقلال، کنار او خواهند رفت.
در فصل پایانی کتاب، گرانت به موضوعی چالشبرانگی� پرداخته : قضاوت افراد بر اساس دستاوردهایشان. او معتقد است سیستمها� گزینشی فعلی که متقاضیان را بر اساس دستاوردهای گذشتهشا� ارزیابی میکنند� نقص بزرگی دارند. این سیستمه� افراد توانمند یا را که هنوز فرصت اثبات خود را پیدا نکردهان� ، الماس های صیقل نخورده ، نادیده میگیرن�.
او این سیستم ها را از آن جا که بر نتایج یا دستاوردهای نهایی و نه شرایط فرد ، عدم در نظر گرفتن مسیر طی شده، درجه سختی کارها و مسیری که افراد در زندگی طی میکنن� ناقص می داند .
گرانت پیشنهاد می کند که به جای تمرکز صرف بر دستاوردها، باید سیستمی را به کار گرفت که تواناییها� بالقوه افراد را نیز شناسایی کند. او این سیستم را سیستم کشف الماسها� صیقلنخورد� مینام�.
با وجود برخی نکات جدید و نگاه جالب گرانت ، کتاب او را نمی توان چندان مفید و کاربردی برای فضای منحصر به فرد ایران دانست . توانمدی های نهان همچنان فاصله فضایی میان ایران و سایر کشورهای جهان در زمینهها� مختلف از جمله آموزش، کارآفرینی و نوآوری را نشان میده�. این امر نشاندهند� نیاز مبرم به اصلاحات ساختاری و فرهنگی در ایران برای ایجاد بستری مناسب جهت شکوفایی استعدادها و خلاقیته� است.
Want to read
December 29, 2023This quiz is based on Adam Grant's research on three character skills that help to unleash hidden potential:
Imperfectionists know when to aim for the best and when to be satisfied with good enough
Discomfort seekers refuse to let feelings of awkwardness, insecurity, and embarrassment stand in the way of growth
Sponges absorb useful information and filter out less relevant perspectives
YOUR PROFILE
Based on your responses, your strongest character skill lies in being a sponge. You don't hesitate to seek guidance on how you can improve and filter the information you receive based on its quality and relevance to you.
To unlock your hidden potential, it might be helpful to work toward becoming more of a discomfort seeker. That involves putting yourself in unfamiliar situations that stretch you beyond your strengths.
For example, you might deliberately take on a challenge that you don’t feel quite ready to pursue. You could also try teaching someone else how to do a task that you haven’t mastered yet.
Adam Grant on How to Reach New Heights
Rethinking impostor syndrome and unlocking your hidden potential
Talks@GOOGL
Character Over Cognition -Pennsylvania Gazette
Imperfectionists know when to aim for the best and when to be satisfied with good enough
Discomfort seekers refuse to let feelings of awkwardness, insecurity, and embarrassment stand in the way of growth
Sponges absorb useful information and filter out less relevant perspectives
YOUR PROFILE
Based on your responses, your strongest character skill lies in being a sponge. You don't hesitate to seek guidance on how you can improve and filter the information you receive based on its quality and relevance to you.
To unlock your hidden potential, it might be helpful to work toward becoming more of a discomfort seeker. That involves putting yourself in unfamiliar situations that stretch you beyond your strengths.
For example, you might deliberately take on a challenge that you don’t feel quite ready to pursue. You could also try teaching someone else how to do a task that you haven’t mastered yet.
Adam Grant on How to Reach New Heights
Rethinking impostor syndrome and unlocking your hidden potential
Talks@GOOGL
Character Over Cognition -Pennsylvania Gazette
November 3, 2023
Fine content (maybe a bit general and likely stuff most of us have heard) but the audio drove me bananas. He did a "full cast" version where people interviewed or examples given were the real people. Which is fine in theory, but SO many of the recordings were different quality levels. The one he used of Steve Martin from his podcast sounded like he was on his cell phone in a closet... it was soo jarring and distracting to the flow of the book. He also had music and sound bytes occasionally which do not sound good sped up 🤦♀� it was more like a podcast than a high quality book recording in parts.
December 24, 2023
The only hidden potential of this book was the cash it grabbed in sales...
All jokes aside, there is nothing that a veteran teacher with a master's degree in the related field has not gleamed. This is a conglomeration of a lot of recent pop science into an even more pop self-help book. The amount of games of telephone are bound of course to lead to this book likely being flimsy at best even a decade later, as the science and measurements made to gain these results are reversed or refuted.
Most aggravating is the continued use of obvious physical anecdotes like sports and climbing mountains as a catch-all for all fields, regardless of nuance. Are we really still doing this?
This feels like a "CEO Crash Course" book that cannot hope to move and shake like it wants to. There is no indication that any of this information will be perceived and implemented by a leader like Grant has laid it out. Grant's book could just as likely cause unforeseen consequences. The points that exist outside this possibility for confusion are the most obvious and therefore trite: "students don't like to read. And reading is important." Pff...
Particularly in the realm of education, Hidden Potential comes off as a book written in outer space. School districts don't just have a problem with literacy, they have a problem with even recommending books at all. As Grant says that the literary canon should be expanded to student interest, books are simultaneously being banned and scrutinized at an alarming rate. And so curriculums are tighter and more controlled than ever.
The audiobook version was quite bizarre, with Adam Grant's own voice laughing at his own jokes to emphasize their importance, creating the irksome sensation of a housewife on speed who's happy she's vacuuming.
There's a lot of facts and logic here, but truth is nowhere to be found.
All jokes aside, there is nothing that a veteran teacher with a master's degree in the related field has not gleamed. This is a conglomeration of a lot of recent pop science into an even more pop self-help book. The amount of games of telephone are bound of course to lead to this book likely being flimsy at best even a decade later, as the science and measurements made to gain these results are reversed or refuted.
Most aggravating is the continued use of obvious physical anecdotes like sports and climbing mountains as a catch-all for all fields, regardless of nuance. Are we really still doing this?
This feels like a "CEO Crash Course" book that cannot hope to move and shake like it wants to. There is no indication that any of this information will be perceived and implemented by a leader like Grant has laid it out. Grant's book could just as likely cause unforeseen consequences. The points that exist outside this possibility for confusion are the most obvious and therefore trite: "students don't like to read. And reading is important." Pff...
Particularly in the realm of education, Hidden Potential comes off as a book written in outer space. School districts don't just have a problem with literacy, they have a problem with even recommending books at all. As Grant says that the literary canon should be expanded to student interest, books are simultaneously being banned and scrutinized at an alarming rate. And so curriculums are tighter and more controlled than ever.
The audiobook version was quite bizarre, with Adam Grant's own voice laughing at his own jokes to emphasize their importance, creating the irksome sensation of a housewife on speed who's happy she's vacuuming.
There's a lot of facts and logic here, but truth is nowhere to be found.
April 19, 2024
Fantastică, recomand cartea asta oricui!
Ai la dispoziție o mulțime de idei, exemple și povești care să te ajute să fii cea mai bună versiune a ta.
Ai la dispoziție o mulțime de idei, exemple și povești care să te ajute să fii cea mai bună versiune a ta.
November 1, 2023
I want to start by saying I love Adam & the audiobook production was fantastic, but I can’t let that sway my overall feeling towards the book.
Maybe for someone first delving into self help/personal development, this would be great. Or someone who just wants a very easy read In that genre.
This book, to me, just wasn’t anything different.
It was enjoyable, and interesting, but I didn’t take away as much from it as one might want to.
I would have love to see this as a podcast with more in-depth interviews with the people mentioned in the book and more applications to daily life.
A lot of the “help� part of this book is pretty obvious, stuff people who are looking to grow already know what to do.
With that said, it won’t stop me from reading adams other work.
*on audible I gave an overall 4 star because of the production and cast.
Maybe for someone first delving into self help/personal development, this would be great. Or someone who just wants a very easy read In that genre.
This book, to me, just wasn’t anything different.
It was enjoyable, and interesting, but I didn’t take away as much from it as one might want to.
I would have love to see this as a podcast with more in-depth interviews with the people mentioned in the book and more applications to daily life.
A lot of the “help� part of this book is pretty obvious, stuff people who are looking to grow already know what to do.
With that said, it won’t stop me from reading adams other work.
*on audible I gave an overall 4 star because of the production and cast.
July 24, 2024
อ่านแล้วคึกคัก � อยากทำอะไรตื่นเต้� � ขึ้นมาเลย
รว� � เล่มนี้เล่าถึงการพัฒนาศักยภาพตนเอง สร้างอุปนิสั� growth mindset หาระบบรองรับที่คอยช่วยเหลือเราฝ่าฟันอุปสรรคและส่งต่อสิ่งดี � ให้ผู้อื่น
ท่ามกลางเหล่าหนังสือพัฒนาตนเองมากมาย เล่มนี้มีอะไรที่น่าสนใจ?
- การถ่ายทอดเรื่องราวที่สนุ� ไม่น่าเบื่อ มีสาระสลับไปกับงานวิจั� ชีวประวัติบุคคลที่สร้างแรงบันดาลใจ อ่านแล้วรู้สึกเหนื่อยน้อยกว่า think again (เราอ่าน think again ไม่จ� 😅😅)
- เป็นหนังสือที่สร้างแรงกระตุ้นให้เราได้จริ� � คือบางเล่มอ่านจบก็รู้สึกว่าถ้าทำได้ก็ดีกับตัวเองนะแต่ไม่ทำก็พอใจชีวิตตอนนี้อยู่แล้� งั้นไม่ทำดีกว่� 🤣🤣 ไอ้เราก็เป็นซะอย่างนี�
แต่อ่านเล่มนี้แล้วรู้สึกว่าไม่ต้องมีความฝันอะไรก็ได้แก งานอดิเรก งานเสริมอะไรชั้นก็คิดไม่ออกหรอ� งั้นมาพัฒนาทักษะในงานที่เราทำอยู่ดีกว่า มีอะไรที่เราจะเรียนรู้เพิ่มเติมหรือทำให้ดีขึ้นได้อีก เน้นความท้าทา� เงินเดือนเท่าเดิ� 5555
- ผู้เขียนไม่ได้เน้นแค่พัฒนาศักยภาพตนเองแต่ให้เรารู้สึกอยากพัฒนาไปกับคนอื่น � สามารถทำงานร่วมกันเป็นทีมที่มีประสิทธิภาพและพัฒนาสังคมด้ว� เสริมพลังบวกเว่ออ�
� If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together�
รว� � เล่มนี้เล่าถึงการพัฒนาศักยภาพตนเอง สร้างอุปนิสั� growth mindset หาระบบรองรับที่คอยช่วยเหลือเราฝ่าฟันอุปสรรคและส่งต่อสิ่งดี � ให้ผู้อื่น
ท่ามกลางเหล่าหนังสือพัฒนาตนเองมากมาย เล่มนี้มีอะไรที่น่าสนใจ?
- การถ่ายทอดเรื่องราวที่สนุ� ไม่น่าเบื่อ มีสาระสลับไปกับงานวิจั� ชีวประวัติบุคคลที่สร้างแรงบันดาลใจ อ่านแล้วรู้สึกเหนื่อยน้อยกว่า think again (เราอ่าน think again ไม่จ� 😅😅)
- เป็นหนังสือที่สร้างแรงกระตุ้นให้เราได้จริ� � คือบางเล่มอ่านจบก็รู้สึกว่าถ้าทำได้ก็ดีกับตัวเองนะแต่ไม่ทำก็พอใจชีวิตตอนนี้อยู่แล้� งั้นไม่ทำดีกว่� 🤣🤣 ไอ้เราก็เป็นซะอย่างนี�
แต่อ่านเล่มนี้แล้วรู้สึกว่าไม่ต้องมีความฝันอะไรก็ได้แก งานอดิเรก งานเสริมอะไรชั้นก็คิดไม่ออกหรอ� งั้นมาพัฒนาทักษะในงานที่เราทำอยู่ดีกว่า มีอะไรที่เราจะเรียนรู้เพิ่มเติมหรือทำให้ดีขึ้นได้อีก เน้นความท้าทา� เงินเดือนเท่าเดิ� 5555
- ผู้เขียนไม่ได้เน้นแค่พัฒนาศักยภาพตนเองแต่ให้เรารู้สึกอยากพัฒนาไปกับคนอื่น � สามารถทำงานร่วมกันเป็นทีมที่มีประสิทธิภาพและพัฒนาสังคมด้ว� เสริมพลังบวกเว่ออ�
� If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together�
January 5, 2024
Unfortunately a step in the wrong direction from Think Again. In the book Grant writes that he values feedback, so here goes. Started off strong, but part III seemed completely redundant to me, clearly for a different audience than the first two parts. Some chapters lacked clear cohesion, jumping from one story to another back to the first one (also too many sports references, nothing new with Adam Grant though). I understand that all three different parts had their own theme, but it would have been nice to tie them together more cohesively. The ideas introduced were good and I liked the personal anecdotes but needed more refining before being published, in my opinion.
March 31, 2024
Listened to the audiobook and I really appreciated the audio clips from the individuals the author used as an example throughout the book. Overall an insightful self-help book for anyone who interacts with other humans (regardless of age).
May 22, 2024
Adam Grant's books have been hit or miss for me. I've enjoyed some. Meanwhile, others have been total flops. As you can tell by the rating, I LOVED Hidden Potential. So much so that I wish I could give it six stars.
Adam is a phenomenal writer, and this book was a fascinating read from start to finish. And since the audiobook has a full cast, I was often captivated and didn't want to put it down.
5 stars.
Adam is a phenomenal writer, and this book was a fascinating read from start to finish. And since the audiobook has a full cast, I was often captivated and didn't want to put it down.
5 stars.
January 9, 2024
از فصل به فصل این کتاب لذت بردم. قبل از شروعش چند تا ریویو خوندم که آدام گرانت اومده بهترین نکات رو یک جا جمع کرده. بهترین توصیف درباره کتاب همینه. جوری نیست که با خوندن هر فصل شگفتزد� بشین از مطالب جدید ولی جوری که مطالب درست کنار هم قرار گرفتن این اثر رو خوندنی میکن�.
با توجه به سابقه آدام گرانت به عنوان استاد دانشگاه و روانشناس صنعتیسازمانی� محتوای کتابش برای افرادی که در حوزه یادگیری کار میکن� یا مشغول به کار در سازمان هستن، خصوصا متخصصها� منابع انسانی بسیار کاربردیه. در واقع به نظرم این کتاب شبیه کتابی مثل «عادتها� اتمی» نیست که به روزمره زندگی مربوط باشه و بشه به همه آدمه� پیشنهادش کرد.
مفهوم اصلیا� که کتاب روش مانور میده� یادگیریه ولی این وسط به کار تیمی، مدیریت عملکرد و engagement اشارهها� زیادی میش�.
تو فصل اول از مهارتها� منش میگ�. چهار مهارتی که میتون� بیشتر از هر مهارت فنی در پیشرفت آدمه� دخیل باشه (پیشگام بودن، جامعهمحو� بودن، منضبط بودن، مصمم بودن). یکی از بخشها� مورد علاقه� تو این فصل جاییه که میگ� یادگیری مسیر سختیه. هر جا اومدن براتون خوشگلش کردن و گفتن آسونش کردیم بدونین که واقعی نیست. این رنج رو بپذیر و برو جلو. حتی به نظرم شجاعت به خرج داده که اومده سبکها� یادگیری رو هم برده زیر سوال. مثل اینی که بعضیه� یادگیریشو� حرکتیه، بعضیه� شنیدنیه و غیره. در واقع باوری به این مدل ادا و اصوله� در یادگیری نداره.
فصل دوم تمرکزش بیشتر روی انگیزه و استمرار در یادگیریه. تو قسمت دوم این فصل، از خمودگی در یادگیری حرف میزن�. جایی که حس میکن� رسیدی به بنبس�. جالبه که خودش هم در همین اواسط کتاب به خمودگی رسیده. نمیتونست� خوب پیش ببرتش و مثالها� درستی بیاره.
فصل سوم کتاب مفاهیم فردی به سمت مفاهیم جمعی میر�. اول از مدارس فنلاند برامون حرف میزن� و رازهای موفقیت اونجا و بعد از اهمیت همفکر� در تیمه� و در نهایت راهنمایی برای این که چطور توانمندیها� نهان آدمه� رو کشف کنیم. خصوصا در مصاحبهه�.
لحن کتاب صمیمانهس� و اونقدر مثاله� جذابن که آدم خسته نمیش�. حتی تصویرسازیها� کتاب هم جالبتوج� بودن. در کل کتابیه که دوباره بهش بازخواهم گشت. نکاتش رو باید بارها مرور کرد.
یه کار خوبی هم که نمیدون� نشر نوین انجام داده یا نسخه اصلی کتاب اینجوری بوده اینه که اومدن نکات مهم هر فصل رو آخر کتاب جمعآور� کردن. میش� بدون این که لازم باشه کل کتاب رو از اول بخونی، یه دور همه چیز رو مرور کنی.
با توجه به سابقه آدام گرانت به عنوان استاد دانشگاه و روانشناس صنعتیسازمانی� محتوای کتابش برای افرادی که در حوزه یادگیری کار میکن� یا مشغول به کار در سازمان هستن، خصوصا متخصصها� منابع انسانی بسیار کاربردیه. در واقع به نظرم این کتاب شبیه کتابی مثل «عادتها� اتمی» نیست که به روزمره زندگی مربوط باشه و بشه به همه آدمه� پیشنهادش کرد.
مفهوم اصلیا� که کتاب روش مانور میده� یادگیریه ولی این وسط به کار تیمی، مدیریت عملکرد و engagement اشارهها� زیادی میش�.
تو فصل اول از مهارتها� منش میگ�. چهار مهارتی که میتون� بیشتر از هر مهارت فنی در پیشرفت آدمه� دخیل باشه (پیشگام بودن، جامعهمحو� بودن، منضبط بودن، مصمم بودن). یکی از بخشها� مورد علاقه� تو این فصل جاییه که میگ� یادگیری مسیر سختیه. هر جا اومدن براتون خوشگلش کردن و گفتن آسونش کردیم بدونین که واقعی نیست. این رنج رو بپذیر و برو جلو. حتی به نظرم شجاعت به خرج داده که اومده سبکها� یادگیری رو هم برده زیر سوال. مثل اینی که بعضیه� یادگیریشو� حرکتیه، بعضیه� شنیدنیه و غیره. در واقع باوری به این مدل ادا و اصوله� در یادگیری نداره.
فصل دوم تمرکزش بیشتر روی انگیزه و استمرار در یادگیریه. تو قسمت دوم این فصل، از خمودگی در یادگیری حرف میزن�. جایی که حس میکن� رسیدی به بنبس�. جالبه که خودش هم در همین اواسط کتاب به خمودگی رسیده. نمیتونست� خوب پیش ببرتش و مثالها� درستی بیاره.
فصل سوم کتاب مفاهیم فردی به سمت مفاهیم جمعی میر�. اول از مدارس فنلاند برامون حرف میزن� و رازهای موفقیت اونجا و بعد از اهمیت همفکر� در تیمه� و در نهایت راهنمایی برای این که چطور توانمندیها� نهان آدمه� رو کشف کنیم. خصوصا در مصاحبهه�.
لحن کتاب صمیمانهس� و اونقدر مثاله� جذابن که آدم خسته نمیش�. حتی تصویرسازیها� کتاب هم جالبتوج� بودن. در کل کتابیه که دوباره بهش بازخواهم گشت. نکاتش رو باید بارها مرور کرد.
یه کار خوبی هم که نمیدون� نشر نوین انجام داده یا نسخه اصلی کتاب اینجوری بوده اینه که اومدن نکات مهم هر فصل رو آخر کتاب جمعآور� کردن. میش� بدون این که لازم باشه کل کتاب رو از اول بخونی، یه دور همه چیز رو مرور کنی.
November 27, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It is very thought-provoking, has a ton of useful information, and is very easy to read and follow. The tips in the book are very practical and easy to implement into your life. They don't require a huge overhaul and hours of your time but more of a mental change in what skills, habits, and character traits that you value. It sounds a bit cheesy to say this, but it really just leaves you with the feeling that you can do or be anything. Overall, it's just a very great book!!
"A critic sees your weaknesses and attacks your worst self. A cheerleader sees your strengths and celebrates your best self. A coach sees your potential and helps you become a better version of yourself."
"A critic sees your weaknesses and attacks your worst self. A cheerleader sees your strengths and celebrates your best self. A coach sees your potential and helps you become a better version of yourself."
February 26, 2024
Do not waste your time to hear of how important character, work ethic, growth mindset, being surrounded with support and perseverance are to hidden potential. I should have quit midway, but wasted my time instead.
December 9, 2023
For the most part, I really enjoyed this book!
Grant looks at the social science of hidden potential, and interviews a variety of people from athletes, to the people who helped rescue the trapped miners in Chile in 2010.
He doesn't just look at the outliers of success like prodigies, but rather he looks at how seemingly average people went out to achieve amazing things.
Breaking this down into three sections: Skills of Character, Skills for Motivation and Systems of Opportunity, Grant uses examples and gives advice for how anyone can achieve their own potential.
I only wish he would have focused more on the application of his ideas. He does give a nice summary of his main points at the end of the book which is helpful, but it would have been nice to give specific ideas and ways for people to systematically apply them to their own lives.
I'd still highly recommend this book, especially if you are a teacher or leader. It opens up your eyes for ways to see the potential in others and not just focus on a small, narrow category of traits and accomplishments.
Grant looks at the social science of hidden potential, and interviews a variety of people from athletes, to the people who helped rescue the trapped miners in Chile in 2010.
He doesn't just look at the outliers of success like prodigies, but rather he looks at how seemingly average people went out to achieve amazing things.
Breaking this down into three sections: Skills of Character, Skills for Motivation and Systems of Opportunity, Grant uses examples and gives advice for how anyone can achieve their own potential.
I only wish he would have focused more on the application of his ideas. He does give a nice summary of his main points at the end of the book which is helpful, but it would have been nice to give specific ideas and ways for people to systematically apply them to their own lives.
I'd still highly recommend this book, especially if you are a teacher or leader. It opens up your eyes for ways to see the potential in others and not just focus on a small, narrow category of traits and accomplishments.
July 17, 2024
This is the book form of your average TED talk: All talk and little to no data driven rigor. It’s one of those fluffy psychology pieces that are littered with “Many studies show…� but never bother to show you a study, let alone a damn citation! Where are the citations? There’s only a handful of referenced “studies� in the notes (a disappointing number of these are NYT, etc. articles and self citations). I went into this book looking for some evidence based parenting tips and came away with� nothing? Grant presents you with a story, a loosely referenced study or two, and then makes correlative claims that you just need to take at face value. Rinse and repeat. All you’ll get from this book are pleasant anecdotes of people with can do attitudes achieving great things and endless platitudes about how you can achieve the same.
January 6, 2024
I’m bummed to say I didn’t really like this book. I follow Adam Grant on Instagram, and I love his content because I feel like it is very inspirational and full of truths that are sometimes hard to hear. However, this book felt different than that. As with some of the other reviewers, I do feel like as a teacher, a lot of this information was not new to me. I also did not like the fact that it was full of so many stories. I was hoping for more practical steps or encouragement for the reader, but it felt like that was lost due to the quantity of stories. I understand using examples to make your point; however, the amount was excessive and they were really longer than they needed to be. Maybe if this information was brand new to you, it might be a great book for you. But if you’re going in, looking for the same type of inspirational content as his Instagram, I caution you that I don’t think this is the same.
January 16, 2024
This made me feel like less of a lost cause in life. Maybe I have a chance to do something with my life after all. I loved this part: “Many people associate procrastination with laziness, but psychologists find that procrastination is not a time-management problem, it’s an emotion-management problem. When you procrastinate you’re not avoiding effort, you’re avoiding the unpleasant feelings that the activity stirs up. Sooner or later though, you realize that you’re also avoiding getting where you want to go.�
July 19, 2024
“Personality is how you respond on a typical day, character is how you show up on a hard day.�
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
I listened to this as July's audiobook of the month. I always wanted to read something by Grant and overall, it was a good experience.
Grant himself is a super achiever and I think that gives him to write a book like this. Also, there is a lot of psychology involved which I really enjoy in such books. The stories in the book are interesting and although the book did not add much to my knowledge it still made for a fun read.
I really don't have much to say about it but give it a shot if you are into psychology and non-fiction books!
May 11, 2025
This was an unusual choice for me at this point in time. When I was working full-time, I would regularly look for ideas in a book like this. Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist who teaches at Wharton. In this book he covers a range of issues that impact our ability to improve, to achieve our goals, to perform better. All of what he says rings true. Some of the ideas you will have heard before and some of them will be new. But even with the ideas you have heard before you will recognize that you sometimes fall into negative thoughts or habits that can work against us all. Some of the ideas have more of a societal impact, such as how we educate our children.
The ideas that you can garner from this book can be helpful in improving your own contributions but can also be beneficial when you are the member of a team or a leader. We all have these opportunities and thinking about how we can contribute more or help others to contribute can be a life-long process.
Adam Grant tells great stories which makes this material easily digestible. His stories work both to introduce, emphasize and conclude his ideas as he rarely tells the whole story all at once. I found the balance of story versus ideas made the reading experience enjoyable. Adam Grant says he has learned to write like he teaches; I would like to be in one of his classes.
The ideas that you can garner from this book can be helpful in improving your own contributions but can also be beneficial when you are the member of a team or a leader. We all have these opportunities and thinking about how we can contribute more or help others to contribute can be a life-long process.
Adam Grant tells great stories which makes this material easily digestible. His stories work both to introduce, emphasize and conclude his ideas as he rarely tells the whole story all at once. I found the balance of story versus ideas made the reading experience enjoyable. Adam Grant says he has learned to write like he teaches; I would like to be in one of his classes.
September 2, 2024
Have you ever felt like you've hit a wall in your career or personal growth? Like no matter how hard you try, you just can't seem to break through to that next level? Well, buckle up buttercup, because Adam Grant is here to blow the doors off our assumptions about talent, potential, and achievement.
In his latest book "Hidden Potential," the Wharton professor and bestselling author takes aim at our obsession with innate talent and makes a compelling case that we all have untapped wells of potential just waiting to be unleashed. Through a blend of rigorous research, captivating stories, and practical advice, Grant argues that with the right mindset and support systems, anyone can dramatically exceed expectations and achieve greater things.
The Myth of Natural Talent
Grant kicks things off by dismantling the widespread belief that success comes primarily from innate ability. You know, the idea that Mozart was just born a musical genius or that Michael Jordan emerged from the womb dunking basketballs. While he acknowledges that some people do have natural advantages, Grant insists that we place far too much emphasis on talent and not nearly enough on effort, persistence, and continuous learning.
To illustrate this point, he shares fascinating examples of late bloomers and underdogs who defied the odds through sheer determination. Like R.A. Dickey, the baseball pitcher who reinvented himself in his 30s by mastering the knuckleball and went on to win the Cy Young Award. Or José Hernández, who grew up as a migrant farmworker, learned English as a second language, and eventually became a NASA astronaut after being rejected 11 times.
These stories are inspiring, but more importantly, they highlight Grant's central thesis: that potential isn't fixed, but something that can be cultivated and expanded over time. It's less about the height of the peak you reach and more about how far you've climbed to get there.
Building Character Skills for Growth
So if raw talent isn't the key to unlocking our potential, what is? Grant argues that the secret sauce lies in developing what he calls "character skills." These are attributes like proactivity, determination, discipline, and the ability to embrace discomfort and learn from failure.
One of my favorite sections explores how we can become "creatures of discomfort" who actively seek out challenges that push us beyond our comfort zones. Grant shares the story of Sara Maria Hasbun, a polyglot who speaks nine languages fluently. Rather than having some innate gift for languages, Hasbun achieved this feat by constantly putting herself in situations where she had to communicate before she felt fully ready. She'd move to new countries and force herself to start speaking the local language immediately, even if she could only say a few basic phrases at first.
The takeaway? Growth happens when we're willing to be awkward, make mistakes, and push through the discomfort of not yet being good at something. As Ted Lasso puts it, "If you're comfortable, you're doing it wrong."
The Power of Scaffolding
While Grant emphasizes personal responsibility in developing our potential, he's no Bootstrap Bill. A key insight of the book is that none of us truly pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps—we all need support systems and structures to help us reach new heights.
Grant introduces the concept of "scaffolding"—temporary support structures that enable us to build skills and tackle challenges beyond our current abilities. This could be a mentor who provides guidance, a team that offers encouragement, or even just a system for breaking big goals into manageable steps.
He shares the fascinating story of the "Golden Thirteen," the first Black officers in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Despite facing intense discrimination and skepticism about their abilities, all 13 men aced their officer training, achieving the highest collective score in Navy history. Their secret? They created their own scaffolding by forming a tight-knit study group, teaching each other, and holding one another accountable.
The lesson here is that we shouldn't be afraid to seek help and create support systems. Paradoxically, leaning on others can actually make us more self-reliant and capable in the long run.
Redesigning Systems to Nurture Potential
In the final section of the book, Grant zooms out to examine how we can redesign educational, professional, and social systems to better nurture hidden potential in everyone. He argues that our current structures often overlook late bloomers, unconventional thinkers, and those who face systemic barriers.
One eye-opening example comes from his analysis of the education system in Finland. Rather than tracking students into gifted programs or remedial classes early on, Finnish schools take a more holistic approach focused on bringing out the best in every child. They emphasize play-based learning, provide individualized support, and even keep students with the same teacher for multiple years to build deeper relationships. The results speak for themselves - Finland consistently ranks at or near the top in international education rankings.
Grant also tackles hiring practices, making a compelling case that traditional resume screens and interviews are terrible at identifying hidden potential. He advocates for approaches like work sample tests and trial periods that give candidates a chance to demonstrate their abilities in action.
A Toolkit for Reaching New Heights
Throughout the book, Grant sprinkles in practical advice and exercises for applying these insights in our own lives and organizations. Some of my favorites:
- Set "minimum lovable goals" rather than striving for perfection. This helps balance high standards with self-compassion.
- Practice "deliberate play" - turning skill development into engaging games and challenges rather than rote practice.
- Create a personal "judging committee" of trusted advisors to give you honest feedback on your progress.
- When stuck, try "backing up to move forward" - sometimes we need to take a step back and try a new approach to make a breakthrough.
A Worthy Addition to Grant's Canon
"Hidden Potential" builds on themes from Grant's previous bestsellers like "Give and Take" and "Think Again." As in those works, he has a knack for synthesizing complex research into compelling narratives and actionable insights. His writing style is conversational yet intellectually rigorous, striking a nice balance between accessibility and depth.
If I had one minor quibble, it's that the book occasionally feels a bit repetitive, hammering home key points multiple times. But hey, maybe that's just good pedagogy - Lord knows I could use the reminders to get out of my comfort zone and embrace the awkward phase of learning new skills.
The Verdict: A Must-Read for Achievers and Late Bloomers Alike
Whether you're a student, professional, parent, or leader, "Hidden Potential" offers valuable insights for unlocking greater achievement in yourself and others. It's a refreshing antidote to our culture's obsession with prodigies and overnight successes, reminding us that true potential is revealed through sustained effort, continuous learning, and the courage to defy expectations.
Grant's message is ultimately a hopeful one: that we all have reservoirs of untapped potential waiting to be discovered. By cultivating the right character skills, creating supportive environments, and redesigning our systems to nurture growth, we can all rise to achieve greater things than we ever thought possible.
So the next time you find yourself thinking "I could never do that" or "I'm just not talented enough," remember Grant's central insight: potential isn't something you simply have or don't have. It's something you develop through effort, learning, and perseverance. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go sign up for those improv classes I've been putting off. Time to embrace the discomfort and see what hidden potential I can unlock!
In his latest book "Hidden Potential," the Wharton professor and bestselling author takes aim at our obsession with innate talent and makes a compelling case that we all have untapped wells of potential just waiting to be unleashed. Through a blend of rigorous research, captivating stories, and practical advice, Grant argues that with the right mindset and support systems, anyone can dramatically exceed expectations and achieve greater things.
The Myth of Natural Talent
Grant kicks things off by dismantling the widespread belief that success comes primarily from innate ability. You know, the idea that Mozart was just born a musical genius or that Michael Jordan emerged from the womb dunking basketballs. While he acknowledges that some people do have natural advantages, Grant insists that we place far too much emphasis on talent and not nearly enough on effort, persistence, and continuous learning.
To illustrate this point, he shares fascinating examples of late bloomers and underdogs who defied the odds through sheer determination. Like R.A. Dickey, the baseball pitcher who reinvented himself in his 30s by mastering the knuckleball and went on to win the Cy Young Award. Or José Hernández, who grew up as a migrant farmworker, learned English as a second language, and eventually became a NASA astronaut after being rejected 11 times.
These stories are inspiring, but more importantly, they highlight Grant's central thesis: that potential isn't fixed, but something that can be cultivated and expanded over time. It's less about the height of the peak you reach and more about how far you've climbed to get there.
Building Character Skills for Growth
So if raw talent isn't the key to unlocking our potential, what is? Grant argues that the secret sauce lies in developing what he calls "character skills." These are attributes like proactivity, determination, discipline, and the ability to embrace discomfort and learn from failure.
One of my favorite sections explores how we can become "creatures of discomfort" who actively seek out challenges that push us beyond our comfort zones. Grant shares the story of Sara Maria Hasbun, a polyglot who speaks nine languages fluently. Rather than having some innate gift for languages, Hasbun achieved this feat by constantly putting herself in situations where she had to communicate before she felt fully ready. She'd move to new countries and force herself to start speaking the local language immediately, even if she could only say a few basic phrases at first.
The takeaway? Growth happens when we're willing to be awkward, make mistakes, and push through the discomfort of not yet being good at something. As Ted Lasso puts it, "If you're comfortable, you're doing it wrong."
The Power of Scaffolding
While Grant emphasizes personal responsibility in developing our potential, he's no Bootstrap Bill. A key insight of the book is that none of us truly pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps—we all need support systems and structures to help us reach new heights.
Grant introduces the concept of "scaffolding"—temporary support structures that enable us to build skills and tackle challenges beyond our current abilities. This could be a mentor who provides guidance, a team that offers encouragement, or even just a system for breaking big goals into manageable steps.
He shares the fascinating story of the "Golden Thirteen," the first Black officers in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Despite facing intense discrimination and skepticism about their abilities, all 13 men aced their officer training, achieving the highest collective score in Navy history. Their secret? They created their own scaffolding by forming a tight-knit study group, teaching each other, and holding one another accountable.
The lesson here is that we shouldn't be afraid to seek help and create support systems. Paradoxically, leaning on others can actually make us more self-reliant and capable in the long run.
Redesigning Systems to Nurture Potential
In the final section of the book, Grant zooms out to examine how we can redesign educational, professional, and social systems to better nurture hidden potential in everyone. He argues that our current structures often overlook late bloomers, unconventional thinkers, and those who face systemic barriers.
One eye-opening example comes from his analysis of the education system in Finland. Rather than tracking students into gifted programs or remedial classes early on, Finnish schools take a more holistic approach focused on bringing out the best in every child. They emphasize play-based learning, provide individualized support, and even keep students with the same teacher for multiple years to build deeper relationships. The results speak for themselves - Finland consistently ranks at or near the top in international education rankings.
Grant also tackles hiring practices, making a compelling case that traditional resume screens and interviews are terrible at identifying hidden potential. He advocates for approaches like work sample tests and trial periods that give candidates a chance to demonstrate their abilities in action.
A Toolkit for Reaching New Heights
Throughout the book, Grant sprinkles in practical advice and exercises for applying these insights in our own lives and organizations. Some of my favorites:
- Set "minimum lovable goals" rather than striving for perfection. This helps balance high standards with self-compassion.
- Practice "deliberate play" - turning skill development into engaging games and challenges rather than rote practice.
- Create a personal "judging committee" of trusted advisors to give you honest feedback on your progress.
- When stuck, try "backing up to move forward" - sometimes we need to take a step back and try a new approach to make a breakthrough.
A Worthy Addition to Grant's Canon
"Hidden Potential" builds on themes from Grant's previous bestsellers like "Give and Take" and "Think Again." As in those works, he has a knack for synthesizing complex research into compelling narratives and actionable insights. His writing style is conversational yet intellectually rigorous, striking a nice balance between accessibility and depth.
If I had one minor quibble, it's that the book occasionally feels a bit repetitive, hammering home key points multiple times. But hey, maybe that's just good pedagogy - Lord knows I could use the reminders to get out of my comfort zone and embrace the awkward phase of learning new skills.
The Verdict: A Must-Read for Achievers and Late Bloomers Alike
Whether you're a student, professional, parent, or leader, "Hidden Potential" offers valuable insights for unlocking greater achievement in yourself and others. It's a refreshing antidote to our culture's obsession with prodigies and overnight successes, reminding us that true potential is revealed through sustained effort, continuous learning, and the courage to defy expectations.
Grant's message is ultimately a hopeful one: that we all have reservoirs of untapped potential waiting to be discovered. By cultivating the right character skills, creating supportive environments, and redesigning our systems to nurture growth, we can all rise to achieve greater things than we ever thought possible.
So the next time you find yourself thinking "I could never do that" or "I'm just not talented enough," remember Grant's central insight: potential isn't something you simply have or don't have. It's something you develop through effort, learning, and perseverance. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go sign up for those improv classes I've been putting off. Time to embrace the discomfort and see what hidden potential I can unlock!
October 30, 2023
Just a regurgitation of standard practices with new catch phrases.
January 25, 2024
Disappointed - gets better towards the end but all very obvious, still nice stories and easy to read but nothing really enlightening
February 5, 2024
'This book is not about ambition. It's about aspiration. Ambition is the outcome you want to attain. Aspiration is the person you hope to become.' I was drawn in by these words on the 7th page of the book. I had to put the book down and think about my own ambitions and aspirations. In fact, after every few pages, I felt the need to take a pause to absorb and reflect on the points mentioned by the author.
This book is a gold mine, each chapter unfolding the wealth of knowledge in most simple yet engaging manner. This is my first Adam Grant book, and I am already looking forward to exploring his other works. Although it falls in the category of self-help books, but it is far from preachy. Adam Grant's mastery in psychology and his stature as a social-scientist clearly reflects in his writing. The concepts are beautifully intertwined with real life examples, and they feel authentic and achievable. Reading about once-ordinary people who have made it big in this world with simple acts of honesty and persistence gives hope and brought a smile to my face more than once.
Hidden potential is about believing that there is untapped potential waiting to be realized in each and every one of us. How and at which-point-in-life does one reach to the level of excellence is dependent on many factors and circumstances. Interestingly, Grant covers these factors and support system with real life stories and demonstrates how opportunities (or lack thereof) and a network of assistance significantly impacts one's growth trajectory. From parents and educators to organizations and mentors, each entity plays a crucial role in nurturing a high potential individual.
The differentiating factor of this book is the stories that bind the whole narrative. Any person or incident mentioned in the book has been thoroughly researched and presented with compassion, not merely as a subject. Take, for instance, the story of son of an immigrant family, who couldn't hold a conversation in English in his early years but went on to become an Astronaut with NASA at the age of 47. Another remarkable tale is about how The Royal Academy of Music changed its rules to admit a deaf musician who is now recognized as world's first and finest solo percussionist artist. Adam Grant has used these and many more real life inspirational stories to convey his points. Even if the concepts fade away, these stories will remain.
As soon as I completed the book, I had a strong urge to start it again. I already know that this will be one of those books I will keep going back to. What makes revisiting this book easy is the simple yet Impactful illustrations covering almost all points conveyed in the text. In fact, they can act as an elaborate pictorial summary of the book. A comparable reference book to capture the essence of this read would be 'Atomic Habits'. If you enjoyed Atomic Habits, you are bound to love Hidden Potential. I am on to shortlisting my next Adam Grant book, happy reading folks.
This book is a gold mine, each chapter unfolding the wealth of knowledge in most simple yet engaging manner. This is my first Adam Grant book, and I am already looking forward to exploring his other works. Although it falls in the category of self-help books, but it is far from preachy. Adam Grant's mastery in psychology and his stature as a social-scientist clearly reflects in his writing. The concepts are beautifully intertwined with real life examples, and they feel authentic and achievable. Reading about once-ordinary people who have made it big in this world with simple acts of honesty and persistence gives hope and brought a smile to my face more than once.
Hidden potential is about believing that there is untapped potential waiting to be realized in each and every one of us. How and at which-point-in-life does one reach to the level of excellence is dependent on many factors and circumstances. Interestingly, Grant covers these factors and support system with real life stories and demonstrates how opportunities (or lack thereof) and a network of assistance significantly impacts one's growth trajectory. From parents and educators to organizations and mentors, each entity plays a crucial role in nurturing a high potential individual.
The differentiating factor of this book is the stories that bind the whole narrative. Any person or incident mentioned in the book has been thoroughly researched and presented with compassion, not merely as a subject. Take, for instance, the story of son of an immigrant family, who couldn't hold a conversation in English in his early years but went on to become an Astronaut with NASA at the age of 47. Another remarkable tale is about how The Royal Academy of Music changed its rules to admit a deaf musician who is now recognized as world's first and finest solo percussionist artist. Adam Grant has used these and many more real life inspirational stories to convey his points. Even if the concepts fade away, these stories will remain.
As soon as I completed the book, I had a strong urge to start it again. I already know that this will be one of those books I will keep going back to. What makes revisiting this book easy is the simple yet Impactful illustrations covering almost all points conveyed in the text. In fact, they can act as an elaborate pictorial summary of the book. A comparable reference book to capture the essence of this read would be 'Atomic Habits'. If you enjoyed Atomic Habits, you are bound to love Hidden Potential. I am on to shortlisting my next Adam Grant book, happy reading folks.
October 25, 2023
I received an arc of this book and thought it was an excellent roadmap for getting the best out of ourselves and others - so much so that I intend to keep it and refer back to it, which I rarely do. The advice is practical, realistic, and well thought out. A few chapters were less impactful than others but overall it’s a great guide to real life improvement.
November 9, 2023
I’m always a fan of data reflecting social environments. Adam crosses the spectrum from kindergarten students to retirees with case studies outlining the building blocks and influences that unlock potential. Some moments that make you think, “hmm, that’s fascinating”…some data you might already be aware of or seems somewhat commonplace.
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