October 21, 2009

Songwriter Irving Berlin knew that while talent may first separate you from others, the advantage it gives doesn’t last long. “Talent is only a starting point,” Berlin said. ”You’ve got to keep working that talent.”

Okay, but how?

John Maxwell, motivational speaker, often talks about finding your “strength zone,” or the areas you excel. He says the majority of people don’t do that. Instead, they waste time focusing on strengthening their weaknesses instead.

For example, I can write short nonfiction very quickly, and little rewriting is needed. On the other hand, I can’t write a poem to save my life. It would be silly for me to spend a large amount of time trying to write verse novels. Instead it makes more publishing sense to get even better at what I already do well.

Increased Talent?

Are you stuck with a certain amount of talent, and you just have to make do with it? Or are there ways to maximize whatever God-given talent you might happen to have? Maxwell (whom I follow on Twitter) says there are thirteen ways you can make the most of your talents. For writers–for anyone–that’s good news! Choose one of these ways today, and use it to help your talent grow.

1. Belief lifts your talent.
2. Passion energizes your talent.
3. Initiative activates your talent.
4. Focus directs your talent.
5. Preparation positions your talent.
6. Practice sharpens your talent.
7. Perseverance sustains your talent.
8. Courage tests your talent.
9. Teachability expands your talent.
10. Character protects your talent.
11. Relationships influcence your talent.
12. Responsibility strengthens your talent.
13. Teamwork multiplies your talent.

Get Started Today!

Many writers compare themselves to others and feel as if they were on the short end of the stick when talent was distributed. Even so, there are things you can do to help your talent grow. In tough economic times, this is good to know.

Which one of the ways above can you choose to implement today? And tomorrow? I challenge you to take each attribute and focus on one per week–and watch your talent grow in the coming months.

9 Comments »

1. 

   Linked here from FB. This is an excellent article! Very helpful. I forwarded it on to an aspiring young writer. Thank you.

   Comment by Warren Baldwin — October 21, 2009 @ 10:15 am

2. 

   If you don’t mind, I would like to put a link to this article on my blog site. It will be in the right column toward the bottom under “Writing Helps”

   Comment by Warren Baldwin — October 21, 2009 @ 10:16 am

3. 

   Warren, loved your blog Family Fountain. Yes, feel free to link to this blog article. We’re all in this together.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — October 21, 2009 @ 10:30 am

4. 

   I’m going to copy this and put it up on my bulletin board. Thank you.

   Comment by Vijaya — October 21, 2009 @ 10:33 am

5. 

   Vijaya, I think I’ll paste it to my computer too. I need reminding. Surely every day I can choose at least one of those ways to increase the amount of talent I have into something more useful–even if it’s just a little bit. It adds up!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — October 21, 2009 @ 12:22 pm

6. 

   What a great list! Thanks!! I’m asking myself where to start, so that must be Focus.

   Comment by Jane Heitman Healy — October 22, 2009 @ 3:36 pm

7. 

   Jane, you’re fun. Yes, I guess that would point to focus. I feel a bit blah today, so think I’ll hit the “passion” idea. Then on to “preparation” and “practice.” Sounds like a good map of the day.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — October 23, 2009 @ 7:23 am

8. 

   We’ve been working through strengths-based leadership stuff with our church and my pastor passed along this thought: Strengths can be understood as Talent x Investment. So I appreciated the “talent” list above (what Maxwell resource is that from, btw?)

   Comment by Dianne — October 27, 2009 @ 11:53 am

9. 

   This is exactly the kind of thing I am looking for….I feel like I am on a ‘plateau! Thank-you for encouraging and inspiring! Janet

   Comment by Janet Martin — March 6, 2010 @ 9:38 pm

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