The myth of the self-made individual | Daniel Coyle: Full Interview
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The blueprint for becoming an emotionally mature adult, in 68 minutes | Mark Manson: Full Interview â–º https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Swxy4tUE3s&vl=en
Talent isn’t a gift we’re born with – it’s a signal we’ve been reading completely wrong. Author Daniel Coyle breaks down the common traits shared by successful people, and why environment, not innate ability, is the variable that ties them all together.
Daniel Coyle’s latest book, Flourish, is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Flourish-Art-Building-Meaning-Fulfillment-ebook/dp/B0F7FX8PWP
0:00 Chapter 1: Where talent actually comes from
4:30 Mistakes are the fastest way to learn
16:03 The spark that ignites motivation
22:29 Chapter 2: How great cultures are built
26:57 Why kindergartners beat CEOs
37:00 Vulnerability builds trust, not the other way around
52:08 Flourishing and human connection
57:29 The Paris table that built a village
1:09:52 Beautiful messes and the rule of surprise
Read the video transcript â–º https://bigthink.com/series/full-interview/science-of-talent/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description
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About Daniel Coyle:
Daniel Coyle is the New York Times bestselling author of The Culture Code, which was named Best Business Book of the Year by Bloomberg, BookPal, and Business Insider. Coyle has served as an advisor to many high-performing organizations, including the Navy SEALs, Microsoft, Google, and the Cleveland Guardians. His other books include The Talent Code, The Secret Race, The Little Book of Talent, and Hardball: A Season in the Projects, which was made into a movie starring Keanu Reeves. Coyle was raised in Anchorage, Alaska, and now lives in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, during the school year and in Homer, Alaska, during the summer with his wife, Jenny, and their four children.
@alexsmith9617
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
I never understood the term “ self made man “ to mean an exceptional or overly talented person. I’ve always understood that term to mean that said individual reached their success, whether accomplishment or financial, by their own efforts and not because they were born into a privileged family. Effort as opposed to ease.
@CossieDR7
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
Legend. thank you for this. Daniel sounds like a great teacher
@annunacky4463
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
I, being a white male, sometimes ask my friends who consider themselves successful due to smarts and hard work, if they would be in that position if they were born black. Makes them think more about how the system works or doesn’t…
@tegan2mares
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
This could also be thought of in terms of circling, or spiralling around as we get deeper into building skills, rather than expecting linear progress, or repeating the same mistakes. It's an interdimensional approach to learning and development, which also applies to Life generally
@SeegerInstitute
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
Thank you so much for this really this is so needed at the moment as someone who’s organizing community. This is very very helpful. Thank you also for acknowledging Fred Rogers. Not to take away from his brilliance. Can we add Pete Seeger to that list as someone who was perhaps equally brilliant at forming community? Let’s all pray to come together as communityat long tables that we might grow food and share it
@TheUltimateTerran
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
Very Great
@RaquelSpeaks-t4d
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
😲 smh
@rickmb67
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
I'm completely sick and tired of channels using click bait titles and thumbnails, and then do a switcheroo when you arrive. F all the way off with that nonsense.
As a result I just skipped through the video. I'm sure you'll still get paid, but I doubt that's what mr Coyle was hoping for.
@TheMozirax
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
It all starts from definition of what is successful. And then you can get bullied for other parameters. Best people always live in their dreams and almost never meet on this rock what's possibly the best.
@arincrumley9046
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
Guitar pluck imagery over-used… but a cool vid. Maybe better as a conversation rather than oration?
So long… such an assault 😮
@greatgyatso5429
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
This is what makes living in the US, and especially contemplating right-wing politics here so strange. Most of the time, the philosophy of the right wing is that everyone should bootstrap their way to success, and if you don’t or can’t, you are lazy. They have the most performative patriotism, but think that anything government-funded is a handout- unless they are deporting immigrants, bullying women out of their healthcare while espousing their role as baby factories. It’s very strange how the illusion of hyperindependance continues to persist.
@raquelgeneve
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
Just rich people achieve the best places in life. When poor person arrives at top hierarchy everyone romanticize the effort. There is no equity, no justice, nothing. All this is bs
@Crocodilesnaper
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
I like this guy!
@weston.weston
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
There's a segment of the population who believe in "self-made." As a person who was born and grew up in a collectivist community, I don't believe in self-made or the boot straps concepts.
@Selfmadetitans
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
Great Analysis on what makes people great, Thank you Daniel coyle and Big Think Team
@Cure2Life_fk_off
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
I look forward to making mistakes, because then I get to learn and try better. I love to grow. I don't think we ever stop living if we are always growing. Not live forever, but when you think you know everything, your mind becomes stagnant, which isn't a great environment for living, but great for death.
@Yoninjazero
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
So… are you going to kiss and marry phoebe?
@awasall3806
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
Yeah i don't trust people
@updatedjustnow271
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
Wealth is built on the backs of slaves.
@Im-just-Stardust
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
This world in general has a strange definition of self-success. To be self-successful you have to be at the top of a multi biollionaire company, work 85 hours a week or be the best player in the NFL.
For me a successful individual is someone who take care of his surrouding, improve it for future generations and do it in the shadow, without cameras and without asking for money everytime he lift a dang finger. Shout out to all the successful people out there, making this world a better place, in the shadow.
@sosagonzalez-black89
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
First view & comment 🙂
@sandramcguire826
September 5, 2026 at 4:48 am
Tell this to billionaires