Amazing People Psychology

Posted on 11. Dec, 2009 by charles in Careers, Life Stories, Self Development

Shakespeare, Mozart, Einstein, Lincoln and Michelangelo are all acclaimed as amazing people. Other amazing people, like Helen Keller and Louis Braille, were blind, but worked hard to help others.

What is it that makes a person amazing? In studying over 500 amazing people, I came to a short definition. They all used their time to contribute in a way that left a legacy that’s still regarded as exceptional today.

Therefore, what can we learn from the life achievements of the greats that can improve our own performance? That is a topic that has interest me for personal and professional reasons. As a psychologist, a major part of my job has been to help people improve their performance in business, sport and life in general. Therefore, I have focused on what I call the Psychology of Amazing People.

In my view, those who achieved amazing things focused on self development, They worked out their own time management and positive approach to living. They had problems like everyone, but they also had plans to improve. Lincoln came from a humble background without much formal education to become a great USA. President. Mozart only lived for 35 years. During that time, he travelled great distances  across Europe, to give concerts. His progress was slowed by contracting small pox and other illnesses. But, he made time to write  brilliant music. Others, like Shakespeare and Einstein, also used time well to achieve results.

So what can you do? First, identify your talent or passion in whatever area it is. It may be in a sport or a hobby, like photography or business. In all cases, the people who we now regard as amazing were able to find out what they were good at and focused on it. They ran their own race in their chosen field and succeeded.

So, no excuses – what will you achieve in your life? Where are you going and how will you get there?  A starting point is to write down your answers and then get to work.

Thanks to sparticus for us of the flickr photo

Tags: Achievements, Amazing people, Careers, featured, Inspiration, Motivation, Personal Psychology, Plans, success