What do we like?, What comes naturally to us?, What do others value in us?

Before approaching this in detail, let’s clarify: first, we’re not talking about the talent artists or geniuses have, but those abilities that allow us to stand out and achieve good results on the professional field. Second, there are no abilities one is born with. It’s true that certain abilities come from the cradle, but the things that count in the professional field take hard work and effort. In modern office environments full of millennials, who in many cases are more restless in their training process, and in that reality, the process of identifying their strengths and talents is harder for them, and the alignment of the answers to these three questions becomes more important.

Let’s look closely at these three questions:

What do we like?

Passion is the main engine for the development of potential. If we don’t enjoy ourselves with what we do, we will hardly stand out. Motivation and passion are different. The first one could disappear for a day because of a rough night or a problem, but passion perseveres through time and isn’t damaged with certain circumstances.

What comes naturally to us?

We can like something a lot, but to have a talent we need to stand out and achieve results. That requires effort, learning, experimentation, having teachers or referents. Overall dedicate time and effort. Picasso summed it up in a magnificent way: “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.”

What do others value in us?

If we’re talking about the professional field, we need to turn our abilities into results. We can be passionate about our work, we can dedicate time and effort, but if others aren’t interested, it’ll hardly be considered a talent. You need to consider that a company or a client is willing to pay you for your work.

If the three conditions mentioned above aren’t fulfilled, it’s complicated for someone to have a recognized talent that lasts throughout time. If one of the answers doesn’t match the other two, problems arise. For example, if you’re excited about what you do and you do it well, but there really isn’t anyone there to witness it, it becomes a hobby. You’ll enjoy it and it’ll excite you, but you won’t be able to make a life out of it. That’s why many entrepreneurs fail. They surround themselves with friends that encourage, but they don’t have a sense of what is actually needed in the market.

On the contrary, if you do something well, and others acknowledge it, but you don’t like it, you end up trapped in a routine and worn out with what you do. It would be hard to let it go, as success is a bad ally to change, but little by little, you’ll get home worn out. Lastly if you like it and others appreciate it, but you’re not good, it’a very vulnerable success. In any moment, some other person can take the cat to the water without you being able to notice it.

In summary, we need to think of the fundamentals for work: if we like it, if we consider we do it well, and if we feel acknowledged for it, we’re on a good path. We need to reflect and think over these three questions as a good exercise that allows us to analyse where we’re standing and what talents we’re not taking advantage of.

Source: https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/07/01/laboratorio_de_felicidad/1561937822_019950.html