If we have a drive to grow and fulfill our potential, then leveraging our talents is a good place to start. I believe everyone has some sort of natural talent; something that comes easier to you than it does to others.
There should be no debate about talent versus hard work. As if talented people don't have to work at improving. Hard work is always required, no matter how much talent we have.
We can earn a good living by working hard, even if we aren't a natural. I have had several jobs where I only used a portion of my talents. Getting to use a portion of my talents kept me motivated (but not fulfilled). I have made a comfortable living leveraging my skills, but they aren't my talents.
When it comes to fulfillment and following your heart and your dreams, our talents are going to be at the core of our success. For example, if my talent is thinking, I don’t have to be an Einstein. Who would pursue thinking if the requirement was to be as smart as Einstein!
I enjoy thinking. If I enjoy thinking, then I will enjoy more thinking! Deeper thinking, wider thinking, big thinking, thinking, thinking, thinking! So hey, why not leverage that? That’s what I will use as the core. I might choose writing as a means of expressing my thoughts. I could also make videos, write songs, write code, etc. There are many ways to express the talent of thinking.
Pursuing our talents is sustainable for many reasons...
We can improve our talents forever without getting burned out or bored.
Our talents drive our curiosity.
Our talents are enjoyable.
Our talents give us a sense of significance.
Improving out talents gives us a sense of progress.
Talent does not compete with hard work. There should be no debate as to which one is better. Talent and hard work are partners.
We could say success is finding ways to maximize and express our talents to the fullest. The next step of success might be to find a way to serve others using our talents. That is the basic formula of sustainable and fulfilling success.
To your success!
James Wilder
James on Success
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