It's Not Your Genes

Do you think that you are the way you are just because of what your parents, grandparents and other ancestors handed down to you? Do you think that your fate is determined by the qualities that you have inherited?

I am reading a new book by David Shenk entitled “The Genius in All of Us: Why Everything You’ve Been Told About Genetics, Talent and IQ is Wrong.” The book is very interesting and I’m only on page 43.

Shenk supports the idea that genetics do not control our destiny.  Our genes are affected by our environment.

Let me offer a brief summary without getting too scientific.

The old thought was “genes came first and set the stage (genes plus environment) and only afterward could we add in environmental influences. The new model (genes multiplied by environment) begins with interaction—genes express themselves in accordance with their environment. Everything that we are from the first moment of conception is a result of this process.”

This leads me to believe that our destiny is not predetermined; we can change what we become.

How many times have you watched an athlete and thought, “Well, he was born with that talent”?  If you know someone who is really smart, you probably think, “She has a good gene pool.”

Having athletic gifts or intelligence does not guarantee a good outcome however. There are many extremely talented athletes who have squandered their careers because they did not work. And intelligence alone never guarantees success; I’m sure that everyone knows a very smart dumb person – someone who is smart yet makes poor choices in life.

Maybe there is some natural ability in some people. Maybe there is natural ability in all of us. But possibly this natural ability hasn’t been tapped yet. Do you think your life would have been different if at the age of two your father had placed a golf club in your hand and then you had practiced hours and hours and hours?

You may ask yourself where all this leading.

So far the book supports my theory—that success isn’t genetic. In other words, there is no physiological presence of a success gene.

Changing your environment by creating relationships with successful people; writing down your goals followed by action steps to complete those goals; creating a blueprint of your next year, your next three years and your next five years; and seeking help through coaching, mentoring and consulting will put you on the road to success.

Being successful in life does not correlate with having good genes. Being successful in life correlates with your environment and directed work towards your goals.

In the words of Thomas Jefferson, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”

Here’s to Your Inner Genius!

Dr. Michael Kaye

Knowledge, Action, Results