To find out what one is fitted to do, and to secure an opportunity to do it, is the key to happiness.
John Dewey
According to Blueprinttennis.com:
Natural talent is an innate or inborn gift for a specific activity, either allowing one to demonstrate some immediate skill without practice, or to gain skill rapidly with minimal practice.
I happen to be good at being organized. I love being organized in my own home. I love guiding other people to organized living in their own home. So I see organizing as a natural talent for me; it’s something that comes easily and something that I enjoy. When I’m working with new clients, I often share that everyone has their own strengths and talents, mine just happens to be organizing. I’m sure they have things that come naturally and easily to them that may not come easily to me. And that’s what’s so great about working together!
If you’re at a place in your life where you’re considering a job change, a life change, following a new path or starting a business, you may be struggling with what to pursue and how to make an income doing it.
Start by thinking about what natural gifts are:
- Activities that come easily to you
- Something that doesn’t require a lot of effort for you to perform
- Things that you may not even think of as skilled or a unique trait because that is just who you are and have always been
- Activities you enjoy doing because they feel like such a natural fit for you
- Gifts that may set you apart from other people who do the same job because you bring our own uniqueness to the table
Perhaps you are:
- Creative
- Empathic/Intuitive
- Organized
- Mechanical
- A Problem solver
- Positive/Encouraging
- Artistic
- A Teacher/Advisor
How do you know what your natural gifts are?
- Think back to games you played as a child. Did you play “school” and now you teach others in some way as a coach, a presenter or a trainer?
- Think about what you love to do:
- What comes easily to you?
- What do you do that doesn’t feel like “work” to you?
- Ask people who know you well what they think your natural talents are:
- They may surprise you because what they say may be something you just take for granted
- Before I became a professional organizer I kept hearing moms tell me that I was so organized and they wished I could help them get organized. Finally a light bulb went off and I started my business!
- Re-read reviews from people for your business if you’re already running a business. You may see a pattern that will help you know what to put more energy towards in your business.
Acknowledge Your Gifts with Grace
- Our natural gifts are gifts that we are able to share with others and it itsn’t egotistical, selfish or bragging to acknowledge what we are good at
- Acknowledging our natural talents has the potential to make a bigger impact on the world when we utilize those talents to the fullest
- If you’re using and giving the best of you and the traits that are unique to you, you’re going to have a really positive impact on others!
Action Item
- Make a list of your gifts:
- Don’t think too hard, just sit down with paper and pen and let it flow.
- If you do get stuck, start asking people around you what they think you are good at.
We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.
Mary Dunbar
