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Collaborative Relationships on the Path to Greatness
The Story of Eminence
The Story of Eminence is an interdisciplinary project that began with Dr. Dana Lockhart's dissertation, The Story of Eminence - Collaborative Relationships on the Path to Greatness. After the dissertation defense and the title of Doctor was received, the research was expanded upon through the use of performance art and Instagram’s creator tools, with music being a fundamental element of experiencing the production. Reels were created in no specific order, shared on both Instagram (@assemblyinquiry) and Facebook (Dana Lockhart, Ph.D.), and received over 21 million views. Soon after the production concluded, all videos were deleted and then re-shared on Instagram in linear order. They became chapters of the story, The Story of Eminence.
This story explores the intimacy and emotions which are emergent in the lives of individuals when they are working towards great transformative achievements in their careers. While individual achievement is considered, it proposes that the path towards achievement is collaborative and guided by intimacy. This assertion was the thesis of the dissertation which began this journey, as well as the theoretical framework for both the inquiry and art. Here, emotions were used as they are both cognitive elements of the phenomena we explore and descriptors of the stories we tell.
This story counters assumptions of eminence by utilizing the careers of great achievers whose work considered great achievement.
Sound on and enjoy the show.
This story explores the intimacy and emotions which are emergent in the lives of individuals when they are working towards great transformative achievements in their careers. While individual achievement is considered, it proposes that the path towards achievement is collaborative and guided by intimacy. This assertion was the thesis of the dissertation which began this journey, as well as the theoretical framework for both the inquiry and art. Here, emotions were used as they are both cognitive elements of the phenomena we explore and descriptors of the stories we tell.
This story counters assumptions of eminence by utilizing the careers of great achievers whose work considered great achievement.
Sound on and enjoy the show.
Eminence is...
The Problem
Eminence “is renown, or fame, where a person is known by others in the domain and also by the world at large for their talent and accomplishment” (Piirto, 2019, p. 117). They are highly recognized in their field (Cattell, 1848) and “have made a name for themselves” (Simonton, 2016, p. 647). Although eminent individuals have some natural abilities (Albert, 1992; Simonton, 2005, 2016), their achievement is “a hard-earned designation given by peers for contributing to the betterment of practice, human well-being, or the promulgation of new ideas within a field” (Subotnik et al., 2021, p. 1). Put together, the eminent are well-known, morally grounded, and it is their motivation (Cox, 1926) and hard work that leads them to eminence (Galton, 1874).
From Lockhart, 2025, pp. 2-3.
Music
Hot Chip. (2015). I need you now,” Why make sense? Domino.
Eminence “is renown, or fame, where a person is known by others in the domain and also by the world at large for their talent and accomplishment” (Piirto, 2019, p. 117). They are highly recognized in their field (Cattell, 1848) and “have made a name for themselves” (Simonton, 2016, p. 647). Although eminent individuals have some natural abilities (Albert, 1992; Simonton, 2005, 2016), their achievement is “a hard-earned designation given by peers for contributing to the betterment of practice, human well-being, or the promulgation of new ideas within a field” (Subotnik et al., 2021, p. 1). Put together, the eminent are well-known, morally grounded, and it is their motivation (Cox, 1926) and hard work that leads them to eminence (Galton, 1874).
From Lockhart, 2025, pp. 2-3.
Music
Hot Chip. (2015). I need you now,” Why make sense? Domino.
Prologue
The Problem
Researchers (e.g., Albert, 1969; Cattell, 1848; Cox, 1926; Dennis, 1954; Galton, 1869; Goertzel & Goertzel, 1962; Kronborg, 2008; Martindale, 1995; Murray, 2003; Piirto, 2019; S. M. Reis, 1995, 2006; Simonton, 1999; Terman, 1922) have explored the phenomenon of eminence for over a hundred years. Nonetheless, there is still little understanding of how it can be fostered. This is a problem. Children are facing increasingly complex and global challenges (e.g., violence against women, climate injustice, structural racism, LGBTQ+ rights) and we need great achievements if we wish to address these shared problems.
Collaborative Relationships
History and current observations show that it is through relationships that talent is actualized and eminence achieved. Consider J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. Both are eminent in their field of children’s literature, and their respective works—The Hobbit and Chronicles of Narnia—are enduring classics. These narrators are often considered independent creators, however, in their adult lives they were close friends. They met regularly and both their ideas and their personal lives were interconnected. Failing to explore this part of their development has resulted in an incomplete understanding of their accomplishments and careers. Farrell (2001) and others (Glyer & Owen, 2015; Kilby, 2016) demonstrated this in his case studies of Tolkien and Lewis, finding that their friendship was critical to the development of their ideas and arguably, their ultimate success (Farrell, 2001).
Collaborative relationships such as these have been observed across the domains (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology, art) and demonstrated to be similarly influential in the careers of seminal creators. Eminent literary figures Henry James and Joseph Conrad shared a passion for the form and method of writing. They supported each other and together, introduced a new way of storytelling (Hampson, 2012; Just, 2008). Psychologists Sigmund Freud and Wilhelm Fleiss are connected in the literature (e.g., Ackerman, 2000; Farrell, 2001; McGillion, 1998), as can the theories that they developed along the span of their relationship. Similarly, Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque pushed forward a new art movement. They combined their strengths and used their competitiveness to push each other’s abilities forward (Olive-Tomas & Harmeling, 2020).
In the research on eminence, these relationships have been left in the background. The focus has instead been on mentors, teachers, and parents (e.g., Bloom, 1985; Lee et al., 2022; Nicholas et al., 2024; Renzulli, 1983). These are distinct from relationships with peers. Parents are important for meeting a child’s basic needs, and teachers are relied upon to support early development. There is an imbalance in power with one side holding more than the other. The dependency that develops from these dynamics can make it difficult for a scholar to diverge, fearing that both relationships and careers could be ruined. As Farrell (2001) noted, "For professionals in a disciplined network, cultural capital is the expertise acquired through education or exposure to those with knowledge and skills in that discipline” (p. 274). The relationships with peers can provide new insight, however, they are in a unique state of flux. Finding insight into the interconnectedness between eminence and collaborative relationships thus requires new lines of thinking and approaches to research, two principles which have grounded this project.
From Lockhart, 2025, pp. 2-5 [edited].
Music
Harry Styles. (2017). “Sign of the times,” Harry Styles. Columbia Records; Erskine Records.
Researchers (e.g., Albert, 1969; Cattell, 1848; Cox, 1926; Dennis, 1954; Galton, 1869; Goertzel & Goertzel, 1962; Kronborg, 2008; Martindale, 1995; Murray, 2003; Piirto, 2019; S. M. Reis, 1995, 2006; Simonton, 1999; Terman, 1922) have explored the phenomenon of eminence for over a hundred years. Nonetheless, there is still little understanding of how it can be fostered. This is a problem. Children are facing increasingly complex and global challenges (e.g., violence against women, climate injustice, structural racism, LGBTQ+ rights) and we need great achievements if we wish to address these shared problems.
Collaborative Relationships
History and current observations show that it is through relationships that talent is actualized and eminence achieved. Consider J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. Both are eminent in their field of children’s literature, and their respective works—The Hobbit and Chronicles of Narnia—are enduring classics. These narrators are often considered independent creators, however, in their adult lives they were close friends. They met regularly and both their ideas and their personal lives were interconnected. Failing to explore this part of their development has resulted in an incomplete understanding of their accomplishments and careers. Farrell (2001) and others (Glyer & Owen, 2015; Kilby, 2016) demonstrated this in his case studies of Tolkien and Lewis, finding that their friendship was critical to the development of their ideas and arguably, their ultimate success (Farrell, 2001).
Collaborative relationships such as these have been observed across the domains (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology, art) and demonstrated to be similarly influential in the careers of seminal creators. Eminent literary figures Henry James and Joseph Conrad shared a passion for the form and method of writing. They supported each other and together, introduced a new way of storytelling (Hampson, 2012; Just, 2008). Psychologists Sigmund Freud and Wilhelm Fleiss are connected in the literature (e.g., Ackerman, 2000; Farrell, 2001; McGillion, 1998), as can the theories that they developed along the span of their relationship. Similarly, Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque pushed forward a new art movement. They combined their strengths and used their competitiveness to push each other’s abilities forward (Olive-Tomas & Harmeling, 2020).
In the research on eminence, these relationships have been left in the background. The focus has instead been on mentors, teachers, and parents (e.g., Bloom, 1985; Lee et al., 2022; Nicholas et al., 2024; Renzulli, 1983). These are distinct from relationships with peers. Parents are important for meeting a child’s basic needs, and teachers are relied upon to support early development. There is an imbalance in power with one side holding more than the other. The dependency that develops from these dynamics can make it difficult for a scholar to diverge, fearing that both relationships and careers could be ruined. As Farrell (2001) noted, "For professionals in a disciplined network, cultural capital is the expertise acquired through education or exposure to those with knowledge and skills in that discipline” (p. 274). The relationships with peers can provide new insight, however, they are in a unique state of flux. Finding insight into the interconnectedness between eminence and collaborative relationships thus requires new lines of thinking and approaches to research, two principles which have grounded this project.
From Lockhart, 2025, pp. 2-5 [edited].
Music
Harry Styles. (2017). “Sign of the times,” Harry Styles. Columbia Records; Erskine Records.
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