Our potential is one thing. What we do with it is quite another. ~~Angela Duckworth
One of the first steps to being your best self is showing up. Face your challenge. Running a marathon begins with a few steps. Playing on stage begins with picking up your guitar. Entering an art show begins with picking up a brush.
Rising to the occasion has little to do with talent. What matters is attitude. Put on your “Never give up” face. Keep going after failure.
No matter what you feel passionate about, success in your endeavor requires tenacious determination. You need resilience. You need to know deep in your heart what you want. Determination AND direction.
Aptitude does not guarantee achievement in your field, sport, occupation, or hobby. Talent in these specialties differs from excelling in them. Hard work matters. Effort matters.
We cannot merely focus on talent if we want to exceed. Talent is the sum of our abilities.
Talent = intrinsic gifts + skills + knowledge + experience + intelligence + judgment + attitude + character + drive
The psychology of grit has found evidence showing the ineffectiveness of “winner-take-all” environments in cultivating long-term learning and growth. These environments encourage the most talented employees to stick around and the least talented to find alternative employment. This ultimately contributes to a narcissistic culture. Enron serves as the best example of why you, as a Rockstar, should not only focus on your level of talent.
And if you don’t know the story of Enron, you should read about it as soon as possible.
If you’re still feeling hesitant about achieving your dreams, look to your mentors. Sometimes meeting someone or reconnecting with a person who believes in your potential provides for a turning point in your journey. They help reveal focusing on talent distracts us Rockstars from what is at least as important to cultivating our dreams–effort.
And effort counts twice.
Are you too distracted by talent? Leave your answer in the comments!
