Shop Talk: Finding your talent….
18 Oct
Shop Talk: Finding your talent….

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Everyone has been endowed with some sort of talent or another. Some are visual, others are not. Not all talents though are easy to be found in one’s soul. They must be looked for and to do that means one must be willing to try something new, something different and something unique. They must keep trying until they find the talent that clicks and then continue to practice, nurture it and cultivate, until that talent becomes a skill.

To often people excuse themselves from finding talents, with the lie that they just have none, that there is not enough time in the day, or that they are just too old . There is no drive there, no motivation to try something different and it’s a lie that can really deflate the moral of a person’s spirit.

So that is the challenge. To stop making excuses and start experimenting. Try something different, something unusual. The age-old adage of “you don’t know if you like it, til you try it.” is true. You will never know what your talents are, until you get out there and try and then try again. This might even mean making some changes in one’s lifestyle and surroundings.  It means turning off the zombie machines and to start actually doing something, as hard as it might be.  It means to start meeting people and surrounding yourself with others that are supportive and also exploring their own gifts and talents. There is something to be said to phrase “creativity breeds creativity.”

Every artist, musician, cook, dancer, singer, writer, jump-roper, crafter, etc… started by trying something new one day, and then doing again and then again and then finally again. Finally finding something they truly enjoy and that they were good at. Yet it came down to trying, failing and trying again. Learning that before you can truly appreciate the gifts inside you – you must first work to seek them out, to stumble at times, and even be a little frustrated. I will tell you though if you become persistent and patient, you will find something incredible things about you.

So take a moment and get up and go try something new. Try something you have never done before, if you have troubles with finding something, than it’s time to watch a documentary or two… I personally learned how to make a fancy cake because I watched cake boss with my family. My daughter wanted to do are own, so we researched it out and then did it. I had blast, it was mess,  yet we learned something really really cool and more importantly we did it. By the way buttercream oreo frosting filling made from scratch is incredible. Now go out there yourself and maybe build a model, give a talk,  learn to can fruit, build and fly a kite or even just learn to be a good listener and you might find some of the unique and incredible talents that are locked deep down inside you. The misconception is that talents have to be visual. That is not true, there are many talents and gifts out there that are not visual but emotional. Each is powerful in it’s own way.  The important thing is to keep exploring and keep enjoying where those gifts can take you. Then when you have figured something new out… go out and share with it someone else.

Yet it all comes down to one thing….

and that is you and you alone have the power to unlock the gifts hidden inside you.

Keep Creating,

trav-

6 Comments

Therese » 18 Oct 2013 » Reply

Travis, I find your upbeat attitude toward life and your encouraging words inspiring. Sometimes I read your admonitions to "Keep Creating" just when I need it most…before I fall down the rabbit hole of Facebook and neglect my own creative endeavors. It's fun to peruse other people's work, but I do need to take care and not let my time be lost to the Internet.

    Trav the bean » 18 Oct 2013 » Reply

    we all do – i love the creative vibe fb and twitter offer and kickstarter, but i am also learning to turn things off at times to find and hone in my skills and craft.

    keep creating

AndyW » 18 Oct 2013 » Reply

A valuable and encouraging thought, but it does perhaps cast anyone who hasn't found their talent in the role of being a failure through lack of effort.

To take a hypothetical example, what if someone's talent is rock-climbing? They could be a world-class mountaineer… if they are prepared to ignore the fact that they're already in their 50s, have a dodgy knee and want to support their kids as they start to raise their own families.

Also, sometimes people don't pursue their talents because to do so would take an investment in time and energy that would be selfish. This is very sad, but it is not a failure. It is a sacrifice. To be a generous mediocrity rather than a self-absorbed brilliance can be a gift to the people around us.

And (on, I hope, a lighter note) let's not encourage those people whose hidden talents lie in… less admirable areas of human endeavour 😀

    Trav the bean » 18 Oct 2013 » Reply

    I never said anything about people being a failure to those that haven't found their gifts. I am addressing those that have said over and over that they don't have talents. That is who i am addressing. What I am talking about is going out and trying something new- something different and finding something that you like. I would also never encourage people to abandon responsibility to explore passions. I am talking about using time wisely. I will never be a cake maker- but at least i tried and found something fun and enjoyable. I also talked about the gifts that are not visual and their importance… I believe that these gifts are just as powerful. I think you missed the true point of my conversation and that is to just inspire people to do something- regardless of age. Are there limitations due to age- yeah, but life is about learning what those limitations are. Plus if you are actively engaged in finding out what you enjoy and what your gifts are – failure is part of the experience- but I look at failure as a strength and motivational aspect of life and not as a negative emotion.

    Last but not least – some of the coolest things and talents i have found in life have been with my family and raising my kids. I have learned that i can put a baby to sleep (must be boring) rather easily, that i can create a mean applesauce with the kids, and that i like to listen to them… amazing talents and gifts i would never see. AS for the mountaineer… one day that 50 year old might do that with his kids or after they are gone (example of the 90year old that climbed everest). To think you have to drop all family obligations to be good at something misses the point of doing things with people that enjoy your company.

    I also look at talents and gifts to be more of a experience that you find you enjoy and can do well. Will some be the world-class individual – prob and yes, but that is them and I am me. I dont compare myself to them but i do like to find things i enjoy and enhance the skill and the experience and when learning that finding the talent is enhancing the skill and enjoying it…

    trav-

      AndyW » 18 Oct 2013 » Reply

      I'm glad I misunderstood the thrust of your comments 🙂

      All too often the 'find your talents' message is one of ruthless self improvement and, natural cynic that I am, I carried some of that into my reading of your post. Plus I absolutely loath those people who think that some ways of living or being are good without regard to people's circumstances or limitations, and that makes me defensive and antagonistic when I read people saying (with less generosity than you intended) that others should do this or live like that.

      I'm relieved to find my cynicism has tripped me up in this case.

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