Would you rather be a child prodigy or a late bloomer?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote 50 symphonies, 25 piano concertos and 21 opera and theatrical works throughout his short 35 years.
If someone can play the harpsichord at age three and create his own musical compositions at age five, would you label him or her as a child prodigy? A prodigy - someone who can perform a skill at the level of an adult.
Does this kind of talent run in the family?
Leopold was a celebrated music composer, whose work is played even today. His elder child, Maria Anna, lovingly called Nannerl was a prodigy. So when her brother played the harpsichord at age three, no one was surprised. The talented brother sister duo toured London and left their audiences stunned with their performances. When she turned 18, Maria Anna abruptly stopped touring. There is speculation that she was more talented than her brother Amadeus.
Maria Anna's brother Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote 50 symphonies, 25 piano concertos and 21 opera and theatrical works throughout his short 35 years. He passed away on December 5, 1791.
Every child prodigy does not become an adult genius.
Child prodigies are not always happy
Why do prodigies not achieve the same success as adults
Being a child prodigy needs different skills: "Child prodigies master an adult domain that has already been invented – whether it is perspective drawing, mathematics, chess, tennis or music. On the other hand, adults we classify as creative geniuses are individuals who have invented or discovered something new, something that changes their domain." When a two year old recites the alphabet, we applaud. We are less impressed if an adult says they can do the same. (Maybe if they can recite the alphabet backwards, it will still be impressive... I think so).
Everything you can do, you may not want to: People grow out of their interest. Everything you CAN do, you may not WANT to. You may enjoy growing house plants, but may not want to become a Botanist.
Constant pressure to perform kills motivation: Several actors who started their career as child artistes complain that their parents robbed them of their childhood. Prodigies find it hard to sustain friendship with others of their age. Dealing with anger, jealousy and envy is hard for children. Read more
You could be a prodigy in one field and a late bloomer in another
"Late Bloomers"? Late for what?
Scott experienced difficulties with traditional education, which hindered his progress and led to academic challenges. This learning disability during his early academic years led his teachers to write him off based on an IQ test he took at age 10. Scott desperately wanted to join the group of "gifted students". Scott wondered if could ever go to college. Getting a Ph.D was impossible he was told.
Dr Scott Barry Kaufman eventually graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in cognitive science, earned a Ph.D. in psychology from Yale. He teaches at Univ of Pennsylvania. (Read his book Ungifted)
You could be a prodigy in one field and a late bloomer in another
You could be a prodigy in one field and a late bloomer in another
Being part of an Ecosystem
Stan Lee was not born with a silver spoon or a high IQ. He was the son of poor Romanian immigrants who struggled to make ends meet in New York City. He had a passion for reading and writing, but he did not have much formal education or training. He is the man who created superhero characters like Spider Man, The Hulk, Black Panther, Ant Man .... the list goes on.
The creator of so many superheroes such as Spider-Man and the X-Men
Combining different skills can be a great way to make your talent bloom
Stan Lee was a late bloomer who developed his career by being part of an ecosystem of comic book creators. He started as an assistant at Timely Comics at the age of 17 and later became the editor and writer of Marvel Comics.
He worked with talented artists to create realistic and diverse superheroes, such as Spider-Man and the X-Men. He also used multimedia and cross-over events to expand the Marvel universe. He inspired millions of fans and creators with his stories and characters. He showed that late bloomers can achieve great things by collaborating with others and pursuing their passions. (more about Late Bloomers)
BIG IDEA: Redesign your practice to be fun
Seek advice - not feedback
So what
People develop different capabilities at different times in their lives. Our genes combine with various environmental factors to unlock our potential. It is a lifelong journey of possibilities.
It is far easier to use play and fun to reach your potential than making it a spartan pursuit of perfection.
