Very insightful post by Max Cho on some things to ponder before judging the abilities of others (in situations like hiring/firing people, choosing friends, co-founders, team mates etc…).

The gist is that in-born ability can be amplified by using tools — we can run at 12 kmph but using a tool like a bicycle we can easily double our speed to 24 kmph — so it’s time we took into account not just a person’s in-born ability but also the person’s ability to amplify. Someone who’s a slow runner at only 8 kmph max but can cycle at 45kmph is much more valuable than someone who’s a fast runner at 18 kmph but can only cycle to a max of 40 kmph, because the first person has better ability to amplify his/her natural abilities through superior usage of tools (the bicycle).

Max Cho sums it up here:

Inherent power has its place: on the field, on the silver screen. But it’s not obvious to me why we inflict it on people in job interviews and tests unless it directly correlates and predicts extended power.

This gets even more interesting now that we’re in an age where we live amidst people who can even “hear” colors via mechanical augmentation. This kind of immense power that lies at our disposal via amplification of our natural abilities using tools puts strain on conventional thinking related to what we call “gifted” people.