5.18 Manuela di Centa: Leaders Create More Leaders

"It’s not enough to have the talent; you have to have the guts to use it.” - Manuela di Centa

I had a teammate in high school who had all the tools to be a great basketball player. He was tall, fast, and could jump out of the jump, but our coach would rarely play him.

My dad would always ask, “Why doesn’t he ever get in the game?” At first, I couldn’t answer why, but I started watching my teammate in practice, and I noticed something - he stayed in the back of the line during every drill. It was like he was afraid to jump out there, so he never maximized his potential.

Olympic gold medalist Manuela di Centa once said, “It’s not enough to have the talent; you have to have the guts to use it.” It’s a powerful reminder that natural ability alone doesn't guarantee success - courage, commitment, and mental toughness do.

My teammate didn’t have the guts to push past fear, doubt, or comfort, so we never got the chance to see how good he could be.

We all know someone like that: A friend or teammate who has all the talent in the world, but talent without action is just potential. Courage and bravery separate the great from the good, not ability. Your job isn’t just to have talent, but to use it. 

You have to be willing to put yourself out there and risk failure. You have to be willing to go first and then go again. When doubt creeps in, remember: Your talent got you here, but your courage will take you further.

Question of the Day: What is one thing that is holding you back from maximizing your talent, and how can you overcome it?