We all have a series of qualities that make us stand out from the rest. Some of us are good at writing, soccer or carpentry; others are very good at speaking in public, in the kitchen, or drawing pictures in watercolor.
Among all the abilities, there is always one that makes you unique and that attracts the most attention from your environment: your talent.
There is a lot of talk about discovering your talent in the academic, work world and, especially, in the entrepreneurial world. This theory defends that you have a characteristic talent and that your mission is to discover it to enjoy it and put it at the service of others.
However, it presents certain gaps, since pigeonholing people based on a single talent is a tremendous mistake.
You can be good at several things, not just one… and you can decide which one to dedicate yourself to.
Let’s delve into the topic.
What is talent?
It is the ability of a person to perform an activity effectively. Talent is partly innate and partly the result of practice and effort.
Therefore, talent is not limited solely to a genetic issue, but also to habit and training.
It is possible that two twin brothers have different talents, since even if they had the same innate talent, depending on how their lives unfold, they can have different abilities.
The theory of discovering your talent is wrong
There are hundreds of books and gurus talking about how to discover your talent. Most agree that the talent is within you and you just have to bring it to light.
However, I think that this theory is wrong because, although the theoretical part is very nice, the practical part does not make any sense.
For example, I don’t think people have only one talent, and even if they did, that talent would be insufficient to stand out.
Rafa Nadal would be nobody if he didn’t train or dispute each point as if it were the last. That is, yes, he has a lot of talent but what makes the difference is the effort and the development of that talent based on work.
Also, Rafa plays soccer quite well, and therefore, if he had started playing since he was little, he would probably have been a soccer player and not a tennis player.
That’s why I think that even if they tell you:
- That you have a talent that makes you unique and you have to discover it.
- That you will flow with it and it will not require effort to exercise it.
- May you turn your passion into your work.
I think that:
- Talent develops.
- Talent requires effort and perseverance.
- A passion turned into work can lead you to hate what you do.
Therefore, it is not about discovering a unique talent, but about discovering which ones you have and which one to choose based on the path you want to follow in life.
To do this, we are going to replace the talent theory with the DESIRE Method.
How to discover your talent with the DESEO Method
The DESEO system is explained in detail in the post titled I do not know what to do with my life. In short, it is a step-by-step method that anyone can apply to go from being totally lost to finding a professional path that excites them and successfully following it.
These are the 5 steps to discover what to do with your professional life:
- DEFINE your vital coordinates: it is the first step to discover what to do with your life. They include all the relevant information to be able to identify which professional path you should take.
- LIST your possible options: The second step is to use your life coordinates to make a list of at least 50 real and tangible future options that you could take that are aligned with those coordinates.
- SELECT the most promising option: use your vital coordinates to define your master criteria, those that best represent your preferences and priorities at this moment in your life. Then use those criteria to evaluate your options and rank them from best to worst.
- EXPLORE that option to verify it: Locate experts in the career path you’ve decided to explore and ask them. So you can simulate the experience of walking that path. If you discover that this path is not for you, move on to the next option.
- ORGANIZE your action plan: plan concrete actions that you have to take to move from the situation you are in now to the one you want to get to. To do this, take into account your current circumstances and your personality.
The DESIRE method is designed to find a path aligned with you, taking into account all the obstacles that may arise. Even so, you may have doubts whether it will really work for you.
The only thing I can tell you is that the method is designed for any type of personal or professional situation, since we understand that each person is different and that, in addition, they have lived and have a completely different personal situation.
If you want to get the most out of the WISH method, sign up for this free masterclass that will help you gain clarity and know what steps you have to take to decide what to do with your professional life.
Talent is not everything
As we have seen, talent is only a starting point. What really makes the difference is how you develop it and use it to serve others.
There are hundreds of stories of young promises of the sport that stayed there and did not explode. Aside from a few injuries (outside circumstances), most failed because they didn’t focus (mindset) or spend enough time improving (training, practice, dedication).
The same thing happens in life. There are people with many qualities that do not take off because they lack confidence, are distracted or are not constant.
However, there are people who are less talented but possess great determination, work capacity, and a growth mindset. These are the ones that end up being successful.
Imagine what could happen if, in addition to all these qualities, you have a minimum of talent…
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I invite you to discover your talents with the WISH method, choose a path that suits you and give everything to follow it successfully.
Now, tell me, would you like to discover your talent? What have you done so far to achieve it?
I read you in the comments.
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