What's Your Blindspot?

Recent Gallop research states everyone is born with a talent he or she can demonstrate with more proficiency than at least 10,000 people. A good education, or employer, helps people unveil and utilize their gift. People who remain stuck in unsatisfying careers don't seem to know themselves, or haven't stumbled into their talent.

Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham created the Johari Window. It's a four panel grid showing what a person knows and doesn't know about oneself with what others know and don't know about a person. The resulting boxes include: public skills, private traits, blind spots, and untapped potential.

Two years ago a Rhode Island high school track athlete was trying different events when his coach suggested he try the long jump and measure his jumping distance. When the student returned with the measuring tape, the coach asked how far he'd jumped.

The student responded: "21 feet". In disbelief, the coach asked him to jump again. The student jumped again. This time, closer to 22 feet. He also jumped six feet, four inches in his first attempt, ever, in the high jump.

This past year, Innocent Jacob led the U.S. indoor jumpers for much of the season with a distance of 24'-01" at Rhode Island Classic. This came a day after his 6'-11" high jump PR ranked him second in the U.S. He has has broken R.I. state long jump record 3 times.

Had not his coach suggested he try the long jump, would Innocent Jacob ever known he had the talent?