Limitless Monday – Putting Your Talent to Good Use

Limitless Monday – Putting your talent to good use

There is so much talent in the world. That’s the good news. The bad news is, most talent lays dormant. But for a few, the vast majority of us leave our talents on the table for only our closest and dearest to witness.

Let me demonstrate what I am talking about with an example. Steve had amazing charisma and could sell dog food to a Michelin Star restaurant. However, for one reason or another, he had decided to settle for a dead-end job as a personal assistant at a law firm where he had worked since leaving school. He was now in his early 30s. Steve had reached the pinnacle of his “career” when his wife, my in-house lawyer at the time, asked me to give him a chance in sales.

I did, and later he became one of our company’s top producers and went on to start his own successful sales business. Steve was fortunate he had a wife who recognized his potential for his talents would have never been put to their full potential without her intervention.

Consider the college graduate bursting with energy, wisdom, and persuasive charm. They choose to travel, explore, and enjoy life. That’s perfectly fine! But do they recognize their potential? And, are they putting their talents on hold, indulging in the moment without a plan for the future, or are they strategizing, knowing these experiences will enrich their future?

It’s the latter adventurer that will achieve greatness; the former will end up working behind a bar at 50 with a ponytail and a few great stories on tap. Will he be happy? Only when retelling his adventures, not when returning home to the small apartment he can barely afford.

We all have one or two skills or talents which we take for granted. When the death bed test arrives we immediately regret not exploiting them. But it’s too damn late.

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Don’t leave anything on the table. Become accustomed to taking risks and saying f**k it! If you have decided to party and take drugs as your main pastime make sure you have one eye on your future.

Today, ask yourself: what are my talents? Write them down. Then, work out how you can exploit them. Don’t take your talents to the grave. Why would you leave your talents to waste away when you can utilize them for a better life? Talents are there to provide you with options. Don’t take the “no-action” option.

Happy Monday!

Banner Image: Talent. Image Credit – Nice M Nshuti