As many of us think, every one has a talent. Some do better at what they are good at than others. Life is a lot more fun when you put your imagination to work, so picture this; Imagine everyone as if life was an Xmen movie. Everyone is born with a "power". A heart surgeon has the power to be calm and open someone's chest to heal what the problem might be. A painter has the power to illustrate an image with color and composition. Many have the same powers, but a few have their power level way above others.
Honing Your Power
Even if you have a "power", you must put it to practice and develop it. If you were "born" with a singing talent, you must go through the correct training and repetitive practice in order for your "power" to reach the highest level. Raphael Sanzio was not born knowing how to paint "The School of Athens". He probably started with a circle. Then that circle turned into a happy face. Then maybe a stick figure, and as the years went by and he studied anatomy, color and lighting, he was able to portray realism in his paintings and be known in history as one of the best.
We like to get away from real life by watching movies and seeing the "magic" on the silver screen. Mutants teleporting from one place to another and men manipulating fire with their thoughts. Why not try to look at the magic real life brings? If you know you have the talent of entrepreneurship and creativity, why not put it to practice and go to the next level? Struggling through accomplishing victory with your talent is part of your powerful story. If it was easy, it would be boring to listen to. If you feel that your talent is not as developed as others, then you have an advantage because the harder the struggle, the more glorious the triumph. Just like the XMen movies, pick a mentor, take the risks and practice your skill whether you are afraid of them or not and search for the answer to the real question: How good can you be?
The Other Side of the Coin
Looking at life like an XMen movie makes it fun to hone your skills. You are not walking away from reality, you are accomplishing goals with another point of view. Now here is the other side of the coin. If you think like me, you would be certain that you were not born with a talent. You were born to become whatever your dreams desire. Your curiosity sets a path to develop any talent. If you were curious to give drawing a shot, chances are, the more you sketch every day and the more you study and practice, you would develop a talent for drawing. You would be called "lucky" for having the "talent" to draw, but it seems like the harder you work, the luckier you get.
I can relate to a painter or an illustrator because I've been drawing since I was 4 years old. I've worked for dozens of multi-million dollar Entertainment and Marketing companies, and that drawing "talent" transformed into a programming, illustration, video editing and art direction "talent". It became a talent because of the years of practice. I was not born with it. I was curious to give it a shot and be persistent at it to see where it could take me.
Proof of the Theory
But guess what? Here comes the proof. I don't want to be the best "Art Director". The "art" process is all part of the story on how things changed and what I learned from those developed skills, I'm applying to my new desire. I want to be the best salesman in the world. I started being fascinated with interaction and human behavior, studying, learning and practicing sales just three years ago. Because of how certain I am that we can all become whatever we want, no matter how late you might think it is, I'm already conducting sales strategy seminars, helping and motivating others to become great sales people and on my way to becoming that person I want to be for others.
I prove to myself everyday that I have become a better salesman in just three years than an artist with 27 years of developed skills. I know that because of all the smiles and focused faces in the audiences I talk to in conventions. I also know that I am a better salesman than an artist by the twinkle in my wife's eyes when I speak in front of people; a look which I could never get when building a website. And I know that I am a better salesman because of all the firm handshakes and contacts that come my way when I'm done selling, presenting and speaking at a seminar.
If you want to be the best at something, start today. Because I promise you and I give you my word: You can become someone bigger and more significant than you can imagine in your wildest dreams.
To read my previous letter, click here. |
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