How can a kid be so good at so many activities with a limited amount of time?

[Anonymous]

A 22-year-old recently grad started his job yesterday in accounting/finance, and he reports directly to me. We had lunch and a long conversation while he was waiting for access to the system. According to this young man, his childhood was always busy with activities. His parents made him practice piano, guitar, swimming, soccer, golf, and tennis everyday. He was also a very good student on top of those activities. He even showed me some of those activities that his parents captured on YouTube, and he looked excellent. He ended up at a very good college, and played sport there. His social life also improved because of the activities that he acquired in his teen years. I came away very impressed by this young man, and I would not be surprised that he will be my boss a few years from now.

All of this brings up my question: How can someone be so good at so many activities with a limited amount of time?

[Anonymous]

Their parents don’t let them play video games. That’s how. There’s a lot of time during the day if you aren’t on a screen

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A 22-year-old recently grad started his job yesterday in accounting/finance, and he reports directly to me. We had lunch and a long conversation while he was waiting for access to the system. According to this young man, his childhood was always busy with activities. His parents made him practice piano, guitar, swimming, soccer, golf, and tennis everyday. He was also a very good student on top of those activities. He even showed me some of those activities that his parents captured on YouTube, and he looked excellent. He ended up at a very good college, and played sport there. His social life also improved because of the activities that he acquired in his teen years. I came away very impressed by this young man, and I would not be surprised that he will be my boss a few years from now.

All of this brings up my question: How can someone be so good at so many activities with a limited amount of time?

What! practice all of those things every day?
That was a choice made by the parents early on (with no input from him) and they had the resources to provide that to him. Because really it's not just a matter of lessons. If my kids wanted to play tennis everyday, they would have to head to the neighborhood court, and golfing (which they do a little of) would be even harder to schedule everyday. You are unduly impressed by a kid from a very wealthy family. Of course he would be impressive. Sounds like he started life half way between 3rd and home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A 22-year-old recently grad started his job yesterday in accounting/finance, and he reports directly to me. We had lunch and a long conversation while he was waiting for access to the system. According to this young man, his childhood was always busy with activities. His parents made him practice piano, guitar, swimming, soccer, golf, and tennis everyday. He was also a very good student on top of those activities. He even showed me some of those activities that his parents captured on YouTube, and he looked excellent. He ended up at a very good college, and played sport there. His social life also improved because of the activities that he acquired in his teen years. I came away very impressed by this young man, and I would not be surprised that he will be my boss a few years from now.

All of this brings up my question: How can someone be so good at so many activities with a limited amount of time?

What! practice all of those things every day?
That was a choice made by the parents early on (with no input from him) and they had the resources to provide that to him. Because really it's not just a matter of lessons. If my kids wanted to play tennis everyday, they would have to head to the neighborhood court, and golfing (which they do a little of) would be even harder to schedule everyday. You are unduly impressed by a kid from a very wealthy family. Of course he would be impressive. Sounds like he started life half way between 3rd and home.

Meow!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A 22-year-old recently grad started his job yesterday in accounting/finance, and he reports directly to me. We had lunch and a long conversation while he was waiting for access to the system. According to this young man, his childhood was always busy with activities. His parents made him practice piano, guitar, swimming, soccer, golf, and tennis everyday. He was also a very good student on top of those activities. He even showed me some of those activities that his parents captured on YouTube, and he looked excellent. He ended up at a very good college, and played sport there. His social life also improved because of the activities that he acquired in his teen years. I came away very impressed by this young man, and I would not be surprised that he will be my boss a few years from now.

All of this brings up my question: How can someone be so good at so many activities with a limited amount of time?

What! practice all of those things every day?
That was a choice made by the parents early on (with no input from him) and they had the resources to provide that to him. Because really it's not just a matter of lessons. If my kids wanted to play tennis everyday, they would have to head to the neighborhood court, and golfing (which they do a little of) would be even harder to schedule everyday. You are unduly impressed by a kid from a very wealthy family. Of course he would be impressive. Sounds like he started life half way between 3rd and home.

Meow!

Hey I know there are kids like this.
I have no shade for them
I run my own race and teach my kids that too. You won't hear us complaining,
But I'm not drooling over some kid who has been set up by his parents. Good for them.
Not my problem, but I see what they did.

[Anonymous]

My ds is naturally good at everything he does. He has a musical ear, plays trombone in band but can also play guitar and piano just by ear. He can ski black diamond slopes, is as good at golf as kids on the golf team, is an excellent skater, on the swim team one season and as fast as some of the kids who did it since they were 5yo, beats people at tennis and pickle ball who play daily. He's been exposed to all of those things through childhood (only moderate cost, a few lessons for each thing, most through school, city programs...), but he goes from beginner to excellent within a very short amount of time. As far as personality, he cannot stand being bored so he is always out doing something, either sports or social activities. He's a good student, but would rather be active.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My ds is naturally good at everything he does. He has a musical ear, plays trombone in band but can also play guitar and piano just by ear. He can ski black diamond slopes, is as good at golf as kids on the golf team, is an excellent skater, on the swim team one season and as fast as some of the kids who did it since they were 5yo, beats people at tennis and pickle ball who play daily. He's been exposed to all of those things through childhood (only moderate cost, a few lessons for each thing, most through school, city programs...), but he goes from beginner to excellent within a very short amount of time. As far as personality, he cannot stand being bored so he is always out doing something, either sports or social activities. He's a good student, but would rather be active.

Did you miss the "his parents made him" part in the OP?
Doesn't sound like your son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My ds is naturally good at everything he does. He has a musical ear, plays trombone in band but can also play guitar and piano just by ear. He can ski black diamond slopes, is as good at golf as kids on the golf team, is an excellent skater, on the swim team one season and as fast as some of the kids who did it since they were 5yo, beats people at tennis and pickle ball who play daily. He's been exposed to all of those things through childhood (only moderate cost, a few lessons for each thing, most through school, city programs...), but he goes from beginner to excellent within a very short amount of time. As far as personality, he cannot stand being bored so he is always out doing something, either sports or social activities. He's a good student, but would rather be active.

Did you miss the "his parents made him" part in the OP?
Doesn't sound like your son.

Op asked "All of this brings up my question: How can someone be so good at so many activities with a limited amount of time?" My answer is some people are naturally quick learners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A 22-year-old recently grad started his job yesterday in accounting/finance, and he reports directly to me. We had lunch and a long conversation while he was waiting for access to the system. According to this young man, his childhood was always busy with activities. His parents made him practice piano, guitar, swimming, soccer, golf, and tennis everyday. He was also a very good student on top of those activities. He even showed me some of those activities that his parents captured on YouTube, and he looked excellent. He ended up at a very good college, and played sport there. His social life also improved because of the activities that he acquired in his teen years. I came away very impressed by this young man, and I would not be surprised that he will be my boss a few years from now.

All of this brings up my question: How can someone be so good at so many activities with a limited amount of time?

What! practice all of those things every day?
That was a choice made by the parents early on (with no input from him) and they had the resources to provide that to him. Because really it's not just a matter of lessons. If my kids wanted to play tennis everyday, they would have to head to the neighborhood court, and golfing (which they do a little of) would be even harder to schedule everyday. You are unduly impressed by a kid from a very wealthy family. Of course he would be impressive. Sounds like he started life half way between 3rd and home.

Meow!

Hey I know there are kids like this.
I have no shade for them
I run my own race and teach my kids that too. You won't hear us complaining,
But I'm not drooling over some kid who has been set up by his parents. Good for them.
Not my problem, but I see what they did.

There are plenty of people with opportunities. But not every kid excels. Some people are the total package, it won't hurt you to admit it. Good for the kid in the OP.

[Anonymous]

Also someone who is like this and if you practice something daily, for years and years, you'll be really good at it. Because most people don't.

[Anonymous]

Kid is a natural athlete, good enough musician, and smart. Parents instilled a solid work ethic and provided motivation and financing.

I know a few kids who check 2 of 3 of those boxes with very little effort, leaving them time to put it work on the third.

I would be expecting he'll be good at the job too, so good on you.

Kid is clearly not shy or he wouldn't have shown his YouTube videos to you (honestly would not have enjoyed that from a new hire if I were the boss).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My ds is naturally good at everything he does. He has a musical ear, plays trombone in band but can also play guitar and piano just by ear. He can ski black diamond slopes, is as good at golf as kids on the golf team, is an excellent skater, on the swim team one season and as fast as some of the kids who did it since they were 5yo, beats people at tennis and pickle ball who play daily. He's been exposed to all of those things through childhood (only moderate cost, a few lessons for each thing, most through school, city programs...), but he goes from beginner to excellent within a very short amount of time. As far as personality, he cannot stand being bored so he is always out doing something, either sports or social activities. He's a good student, but would rather be active.

This situation only happens in schools like Justice or Falls Church because kids there are not good. It doesn't happen in McLean/Langley schools. The same with music but wishful thinking on your part.

[Anonymous]

Very high iq and work ethic

[Anonymous]

I could imagine my kid being like that if we pushed him more. As it is he swims at a high level, does very well in school, practices guitar (and dabbles in piano) daily because he likes it, works as a ref most weekends, golfs with friends when he can and still spends hours a day messing around on his phone or watching tv. If those hours were spent at golf and tennis lessons, and his early childhood was full of the same rather than playing in the neighborhood, I imagine he could be quite good at all those things. He’s naturally pretty smart and a good athlete and enjoys music. I think it’s part luck of draw and part pushy parents (which were not really).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A 22-year-old recently grad started his job yesterday in accounting/finance, and he reports directly to me. We had lunch and a long conversation while he was waiting for access to the system. According to this young man, his childhood was always busy with activities. His parents made him practice piano, guitar, swimming, soccer, golf, and tennis everyday. He was also a very good student on top of those activities. He even showed me some of those activities that his parents captured on YouTube, and he looked excellent. He ended up at a very good college, and played sport there. His social life also improved because of the activities that he acquired in his teen years. I came away very impressed by this young man, and I would not be surprised that he will be my boss a few years from now.

All of this brings up my question: How can someone be so good at so many activities with a limited amount of time?

What! practice all of those things every day?
That was a choice made by the parents early on (with no input from him) and they had the resources to provide that to him. Because really it's not just a matter of lessons. If my kids wanted to play tennis everyday, they would have to head to the neighborhood court, and golfing (which they do a little of) would be even harder to schedule everyday. You are unduly impressed by a kid from a very wealthy family. Of course he would be impressive. Sounds like he started life half way between 3rd and home.

+1

Wealthy people can also get rid of every little bit of friction that a normal person has to deal with on a daily basis. They can outsource any activity (cleaning, organizing, purchasing needed items -- they can even outsource the coordination of these outsourced services to a household manager or assistant) that does not perfectly optimize their time.

This kid was raised the way Jeff Bezos currently lives his life, with an army of staff and plenty of resources to ensure that each waking moment can be as productive as possible. But it's relevant that Bezos actually had to work to get to that point and this kid was just born into it, like royalty.

Without obstacles anything is possible. Most people deal with obstacles. I wonder what might happen if this kid encounters an obstacle that cannot be easily resolved with money and privilege. A relationship failure or a dire medical issue.