High-performers: are they born or can they be made?

In 1965 a Hungarian researcher, named Laszlo Polgar, developed the ultimate experiment to test the hypothesis whether “geniuses are born, not made”. For this experiment, he first of all needed a partner, a woman. After a few declines, Laszlo came in contact with an Ukrainian woman who wanted to participate, her name was Klara.

Laszlo and Klara got their first daughter in 1969, who was called Susan. In 1974 and 1976 they welcomed Sofia and Judit as their 2nd and 3rd daughter.

Laszlo wanted to prove that children could produce exceptional results if trained in one specific subject of focus (to amplify this focus, the 3 daughters were homeschooled by Klara). Hence, the 3 daughters trained with their father every single day in a sport with a clear and objective ranking: chess.

Eventually, all 3 women developed into chess grandmasters with unprecedented results:

Susan was the world’s best chess player at age 15 (!).
Sofia, the second daughter, stunned the chess world by beating a few very experienced Russian grandmasters in a tournament in Rome, which became known as the “Sack of Rome”.
Judit, the youngest, was the most exceptional one. She won the grandmaster title at age 15 years (and 4 months to be precise) which was the fastest ever at that point in time; men and women included. She remained the #1 female chess player worldwide for 27 years.

Exceptional results can be trained in one specific subject of focus

This experiment produces the insight that High-Performers can be made, if nurtured in the right way.

Want to know what are the 3 building blocks of High-Performance? Click here to download my Toolbook “Getting Ahead”.

Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash

High-performers: are they born or can they be made?

In 1965 a Hungarian researcher, named Laszlo Polgar, developed the ultimate experiment to test the hypothesis whether “geniuses are born, not made”. For this experiment, he first of all needed a partner, a woman. After a few declines, Laszlo came in contact with an Ukrainian woman who wanted to participate, her name was Klara.

Laszlo and Klara got their first daughter in 1969, who was called Susan. In 1974 and 1976 they welcomed Sofia and Judit as their 2nd and 3rd daughter.

Laszlo wanted to prove that children could produce exceptional results if trained in one specific subject of focus (to amplify this focus, the 3 daughters were homeschooled by Klara). Hence, the 3 daughters trained with their father every single day in a sport with a clear and objective ranking: chess.

Eventually, all 3 women developed into chess grandmasters with unprecedented results:

Susan was the world’s best chess player at age 15 (!).
Sofia, the second daughter, stunned the chess world by beating a few very experienced Russian grandmasters in a tournament in Rome, which became known as the “Sack of Rome”.
Judit, the youngest, was the most exceptional one. She won the grandmaster title at age 15 years (and 4 months to be precise) which was the fastest ever at that point in time; men and women included. She remained the #1 female chess player worldwide for 27 years.

Exceptional results can be trained in one specific subject of focus

This experiment produces the insight that High-Performers can be made, if nurtured in the right way.

Want to know what are the 3 building blocks of High-Performance? Click here to download my Toolbook “Getting Ahead”.

Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash