Its almost become a trope that the smart kid becomes the underperforming adult.

After spending time with lots of overperforming adults (those that get outsized results), I see a pattern:

  • start with power
  • develop their passion
  • make a profit (not just financial)

Power, as in superpower. But we’re not superheroes, so its just power.

Passion, as in you do it 8-12 hours a day, every day, for the next 7 years.

Profit, as in how you do it gets a positive, fruitful result in your life.

Overperforming adults often weren’t overperforming kids. Which means they learned early on that they have one, maybe two powers.

And then they follow that formula.

Smart kids learn early on that they have a lot of powers.

But having lots of powers looks like the opposite of developing passion.

Its hard to spend 8-12 hours a day doing one thing, when you get the same results as others in 1-2 hours a day in everything. The perks are better.

And then profit doesn’t enter into the equation until its too late.