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What you see in living systems, and in genetic systems, is that the genes are already there, having arisen in the course of time, and when they are needed they become activated. If they had to be invented, the time would be too late. By the same token, I think that the people who are needed to help guide the future already exist. They simply need to recognize this in themselves, react to the opportunities that prevail, and also be valued and be encouraged. It's that very large, and as yet amorphous, rung that is of interest to me. I hope to articulate this, and see to what extent it makes sense to others as well.

Jonas Salk#25

FutureLeadershipPotentialTalent

About this quote

What does it mean?
People needed to guide the future already exist and just need recognition and encouragement.
In plain terms
The leaders we need are already here; we just need to see and value them.
What can you take from it?
Recognize and empower potential leaders in your environment.

Where it applies

  • recruitment
  • education
  • mentoring

Putting it to work

  • identify latent talent
  • provide encouragement

Questions to consider

  • Where do you see untapped potential?
  • How do you encourage others?

Another view

Existing talent may not fit traditional roles.

More from Jonas Salk

  1. I am interested in a phase that I think we are entering. I call it 'teleological evolution,' evolution with a purpose. The idea of evolution by design, designi…

    Permalink to quote #24
  2. The first thing I would like to point out is that each of us have a different purpose that we have to serve in the evolutionary scheme of things. We are not al…

    Permalink to quote #26
  3. Reason alone will not serve. Intuition alone can be improved by reason, but reason alone without intuition can easily lead the wrong way. They both are necessa…

    Permalink to quote #23

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