--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since each person's talents are enduring…" description: "\"“Since each person's talents are enduring, you should spend a great deal of time and money selecting people properly in the first place. This will help..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01f/donald-o-clifton-14648_first-place_since-each-person-s-talents-are-enduring_349076.png" --- # Since each person's talents are enduring, you should spend… ![“Since each person's talents are enduring, you should spend a great deal of time and money selecting people properly in the first place. This will help mitigate the 'I don't think I have the right talent for the role' problem. Since each person's talents are unique, you should focus performance by…” quote by Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01f/donald-o-clifton-14648_first-place_since-each-person-s-talents-are-enduring_349076.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01f/donald-o-clifton-14648_first-place_since-each-person-s-talents-are-enduring_349076.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01f/donald-o-clifton-14648_first-place_since-each-person-s-talents-are-enduring_349076.png) > ““Since each person's talents are enduring, you should spend a great deal of time and money selecting people properly in the first place. This will help mitigate the 'I don't think I have the right talent for the role' problem. Since each person's talents are unique, you should focus performance by legislating outcomes rather than forcing each person into a stylistic mold. This means a strong emphasis on careful measurement of the right outcomes, and less on policies, procedures, and competencies. This will address the 'in my role I don't have any room to express my talents' problem.”” [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hiring and structuring work around enduring, unique talents reduces role frustration and improves performance. **In simple terms:** Match people to roles that fit their lasting strengths. Key Takeaway Select and design jobs for true talents. Themes talent management performance design Mood thoughtful strategic Type prescriptive insightful When to use this quote - recruitment - team building - career development - project assignment Key Concepts enduring strengths role fit outcome measurement flexibility Questions to Reflect On - What metrics truly reflect talent success? - How to balance flexibility with organizational needs? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on measurement may stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talents/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time and money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-and-money/) ## Related quotes > [“1. Each person's talents are enduring and unique. 2. Each person's greatest room for growth is in the areas of his or her greatest strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/1-each-person-s-talents-are-enduring-and-unique-2-each-person-s/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“Thus, the lesson we should draw from these people is not that each person's talents are infinitely malleable or that they can be anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/thus-the-lesson-we-should-draw-from-these-people-is-not-that-each/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [A lazy person, whatever the talents with which he starts out, have condemned himself to second-rate thoughts, and to second-rate friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-connolly/a-lazy-person-whatever-the-talents-with-which-he-starts-out-have/) [Cyril Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-connolly/) > [A lazy person, whatever the talents with which he set out, will have condemned himself to second-hand thoughts and to second-rate friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-connolly/a-lazy-person-whatever-the-talents-with-which-he-set-out-will-have/) [Cyril Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-connolly/) > [It takes getting the right talent. It takes a lot of patience. It takes investment and passion and commitment and entrepreneurial spirit, and everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steward/it-takes-getting-the-right-talent-it-takes-a-lot-of-patience-it-takes/) [David Steward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steward/) > [We believe that when the right talent meets the right opportunity in a company with the right philosophy, amazing transformation can happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/we-believe-that-when-the-right-talent-meets-the-right-opportunity-in/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [You obviously have to build a culture, a foundation. You must build the right talent however you do it. Then you have to build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-spoelstra/you-obviously-have-to-build-a-culture-a-foundation-you-must-build-the/) [Erik Spoelstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-spoelstra/) > [Instilling the right culture almost always takes time. And inevitably there will be some who balk against your standards. But, you must have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/instilling-the-right-culture-almost-always-takes-time-and-inevitably/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [My background is around economics and finance; yet, of course, in professional services, talent is key. And for many of our clients, whatever the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-nanterme/my-background-is-around-economics-and-finance-yet-of-course-in/) [Pierre Nanterme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-nanterme/) > [“Since the greatest room for each person's growth is in the areas of his greatest strength, you should focus your training time and money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/since-the-greatest-room-for-each-person-s-growth-is-in-the-areas-of/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“To develop a strength in any activity requires certain natural talents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/to-develop-a-strength-in-any-activity-requires-certain-natural-talents/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“Talents are your naturally recurring patterns of thought, feeling, or behavior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/talents-are-your-naturally-recurring-patterns-of-thought-feeling-or/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“Our research into human strengths does not support the extreme, and extremely misleading, assertion that 'you can play any role you set your mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/our-research-into-human-strengths-does-not-support-the-extreme-and/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [“always put off writing by reorganizing my entire house and spending way too much time and money buying office supplies and organizing systems. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/always-put-off-writing-by-reorganizing-my-entire-house-and-spending/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) ## More by Donald O. Clifton > [“The bottom line on skills is this: A skill is designed to make the secrets of the best easily transferable. If you learn a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/the-bottom-line-on-skills-is-this-a-skill-is-designed-to-make-the/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“Rather, your smartness and your effectiveness depend on how well you capitalize on your strongest connections.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/rather-your-smartness-and-your-effectiveness-depend-on-how-well-you/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [At an early age, you started hearing it: It's a virtue to be "well-rounded." ... They might as well have said : Become as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/at-an-early-age-you-started-hearing-it-it-s-a-virtue-to-be-well/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“The 'big five' factors of personality are neuroticism (which reflects emotional stability), extroversion (seeking the company of others), openness (interest in new experiences, ideas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/the-big-five-factors-of-personality-are-neuroticism-which-reflects/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“If nature didn't whittle down your network to a smaller number of strongly forged connections, you would never become an adult. You would remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/if-nature-didn-t-whittle-down-your-network-to-a-smaller-number-of/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“Thus, the lesson we should draw from these people is not that each person's talents are infinitely malleable or that they can be anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/thus-the-lesson-we-should-draw-from-these-people-is-not-that-each/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“Such questions are labeled 'ipsative,' which means that if in reality you have both, the question makes it impossible for you to show up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/such-questions-are-labeled-ipsative-which-means-that-if-in-reality/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“First, he became aware of it. Many of us don't seem able to take even this step. Second, and most significant, he chose not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/first-he-became-aware-of-it-many-of-us-don-t-seem-able-to-take-even/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“The only possible failure would be never managing to find the right role or the right partners to help you realize that strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/the-only-possible-failure-would-be-never-managing-to-find-the-right/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [Each of these strategies-get a little better at it, design a support system, use one of your strongest themes to overwhelm your weakness, find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/each-of-these-strategies-get-a-little-better-at-it-design-a-support/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“The acid test of a strength? The ability is a strength only if you can fathom yourself doing it repeatedly, happily, and successfully.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/the-acid-test-of-a-strength-the-ability-is-a-strength-only-if-you-can/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“To develop a strength in any activity requires certain natural talents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/to-develop-a-strength-in-any-activity-requires-certain-natural-talents/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“But if you find yourself thinking in the future, if you find yourself actually anticipating the activity-'When can I do this again?'-it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/but-if-you-find-yourself-thinking-in-the-future-if-you-find-yourself/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [What leaders have in common is that each really knows their strengths, has developed their strengths, and can call on the right strength at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/what-leaders-have-in-common-is-that-each-really-knows-their-strengths/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [“Satisfactions provide the last clue to talent. As we described in the previous chapter, your strongest synaptic connections are designed so that when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/satisfactions-provide-the-last-clue-to-talent-as-we-described-in-the/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) [Explore all 46 Donald O. Clifton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) ## More First place quotes > [“But the process should not be confused with science. When tests are used as selections devices, they're not a neutral tool; they become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-whyte/but-the-process-should-not-be-confused-with-science-when-tests-are/) [William H. Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-whyte/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. 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When that happens, others have to come to the front and show the calibre that brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/at-times-you-are-going-to-miss-people-when-that-happens-others-have/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [Im never shocked when people let me down nowadays. I just hate the fact that I put myself in a position to be let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-never-shocked-when-people-let-me-down-nowadays-i-just-hate-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Had a 90's music party with my Glee family tonight. Helped remind me why I got into music in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-salling/had-a-90-s-music-party-with-my-glee-family-tonight-helped-remind-me/) [Mark Salling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-salling/) > [“We heard about people who go back to their roots. That is good, but don't get stuck in the root. 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Faith not just in God, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cronin/the-greatest-faith-is-the-willingness-to-ask-in-the-first-place-all/) [Justin Cronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cronin/) [Browse all 2,907 First place quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Since each person's talents are enduring, you should spend a great deal of time and money selecting people properly in the first place. This will help mitigate the 'I don't think I have the right talent for the role' problem. Since each person's talents are unique, you should focus performance by legislating outcomes rather than forcing each person into a stylistic mold. This means a strong emphasis on careful measurement of the right outcomes, and less on policies, procedures, and competencies. 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