Career Tear

Talent is defined as ______.

1. Something I do well.
2. Something that I do flawlessly.
3. Something that I am passionate about.
4. Something that compliments my job description.

1. Talent is not something that you only do well or good. To have a talent  you should exceed the common standards.  Just because you made a “B+” in algebra does not mean you should pursue a career as an accountant.
2. Perfection is never the aim.  It is impossible to perfect at anything.  By many Michael Jordan is considered to be one of the best pro athletes ever, but there were many games where he was not triumphant.  His aim was not perfection, his intention was to be the best athlete in a sport that he loved
3. Passion is important when defining talent.  It is hard to remain focused and consistent if you are in a career that you have no passion for.  Boredom and lack of connectivity in the workplace is  a contributing factor to unhappiness on the job.
4. Talent does not equal task.  You may be excellent at shorthand, but that does not necessarily make you a novelist.  Your tasks are a part of your job description.  How well you perform the task is evidence of your work morale.  Succeeding at the office ensures your job security, but it does not encourage any talent surge.

If I was selected to be a contestant on America’s Got Talent I would……

1. Immediately know what my talent would be.
2. Toggle between a few talents and select the one I think would help me win.
3. Have no idea what my talent would be.
4. My talent would not be best appreciated in such a platform.

1. Those who succeed in life already know what their strengths are.  They have invested years into improving their talents and they recognize what makes them unique and successful.  When we hear the phrase “All my life I have loved…” it is because we are encountering someone who has embraced their talent and allowed it to lead them in the compass of personal success.
2. Not everyone is limited to one talent.  Some have equal passion for varying talents and some talents, when united, serve to really influence a broader spectrum.   You don’t have to select just one talent to carry you through life.  Stevie Wonder embraces the trio signature of singing, composing and playing music. It would be unimaginable to see one of his talents stifled to suit the other.  Recognizing the relationships of your talents creates a more successful relevance.
3. If you are in the window gazing out and wondering what your talent is you probably are not in an enriching career or living an abundant life.  Everyone has a distinctive and substantive calling.  No matter how many years have ticked from the clock of life, everyone has a gift to share.
4. Not all talents are traditional.  Singing, dancing, magic tricks, stunts, writing, acting, golf, painting are not talents that everyone has.  Talents are relevant to any source of the mind, body and spirit.  The myth that talents are limited to what you can see is an outdated philosophy. Every weekend I would see a man on the side of the road with dozens of religious signs covering the grass beneath.  Wind, rain, storm, heat, this man was there to deliver a message.  Whether you agreed with his ‘hit you in the face” message, he knew what he was sent there to do and he did it with intense desire.

The truth about my talent is___________.

1. I can’t envision my talents making me rich.
2. I know my strengths, but I am not sure if I am ready to share it.
3. I have no interest in my talent.
4. I have never thought about it.

1. The guarantee is not for you become rich from your talent.  The guarantee is that the quality of your life and that of others will be enriched from your talent.  If creative geniuses like John Lassiter (Pixar) or innovative leaders like Steve Jobs (Apple) focused on money then the advancement of animation and technology would have remained undiscovered.     Money follows talent.  Rewards follow talent.  Success follows talent.  Money never introduces talent.
2. If you know your talents yet choose not to share them then you are making a decision that will affect the quality of your life. The more profound question is what is keeping you from exploring your talents.  Is it your fear that you will be rejected?  Is it your fear that you will not be well received?  Is it your fear that you will fail? Will you have to change?  Whatever your reasoning the first step is acknowledgment.
3. If you have no interest in your talent then it probably is not a talent.  You must be able to appreciate your talent.   Many are conditioned to pursue something that they have no interest.  This is what I call the parent trap. The interest of your family has been recycled down to you.  You really didn’t want to be an ice skater.  You were content skating on the outdoor rink during Christmas.  If someone else sees talent in you that you have no interest in then trust me, it is not for you.
4. The first question I ask my clients has nothing to do with the direction of their career, the productivity of their business or the quality of their leadership.  The first question that I ask is  “What do you really want to do?”  They seem astonished that I would lead with that question.  Over the years I have discovered that most people really want to advance in their career only in proportion to their potential not their talent.  They want more money, a better job and a better job title, but at the sacrifice of  abandoning what they really want to do and who they really want to become. Those who don’t use their talents secretly dream of what could have been.  Shift the focus on what you really want to do and create a long term plan to achieve it.

Recommended Read: Cure for the Common Life – Living in Your Sweet Spot,  Max Lucado

Share your talents.  E-mail us your story.

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