Unlock your Everest - Maximise your Talent

We all have reservoirs of potential to be unleashed and to recognize our unlimited potential is the first step towards getting the best out of ourselves. Talent is a strange word that we use to describe only the uber-successful like multimillionaires, sports superstars and other public figures but we all have talent that can be unleashed. Most of us are unlikely to achieve public acclaim so that may not be the best yardstick for a successful life.

Our true potential isn't measured by external validation or public acclaim, but by the personal satisfaction and fulfillment we find in our pursuits. It's about tapping into that unique wellspring of ability that lies within each of us, regardless of the size of the stage we perform on. The real measure of success is living a life that is authentically our own, one where we are consistently challenging ourselves to grow and contribute in meaningful ways.

Talent is not something most of us are born with, it is something we develop through thorough soul searching, self-analysis, practice and deep learning. It is a cinch but worth repeating find out what ignites your passion. Passion ignites reservoirs of talent that is hidden within our vast reservoirs. The main obstacles in our path are our self-doubt and lack of patience.

Building on that, the journey of developing talent is an ongoing process of self-discovery. It's about being courageous enough to explore new interests, and patient enough to endure the inevitable setbacks. By consistently challenging our own limitations and embracing a mindset of continuous improvement, we can transform our innate inclinations into developed abilities that not only fulfill us but also allow us to make a unique impact on the world.

Let’s face it once we embark on a journey we get a little overwhelmed with the effort that is required to get to our summit. There are no guarantees in life and the journey is going to be hard but we have to realize it is worth the effort. We have to really deeply think what we are in it for. Yes money is a reason, fame is a reason, a sense of accomplishment is a reason but once we get deep within ourselves and realize that there is something more important our juices start flowing.

When you connect with that deeper purpose, the effort required to reach your goals feels less like a burden and more like a calling. It's this profound sense of meaning that sustains you through the long stretches of hard work and uncertainty. When your why is bigger than the challenges you face, you find a resilience and determination that money, fame, or even a sense of accomplishment can't provide on their own.

Finding our purpose/meaning/mission in life is our great task. Once we find what we are here for our lives become more exciting, engaging, and we are full of energy, enthusiasm, passion and have an unlimited zest for our lives. Just writing about this makes me feel more excited. Today is a great day to live the life we have always imagined. It has been well established that once we act like the person we want to become we will eventually become the type of person we always wanted to be deep inside. This is what Clayton Christensen calls likeness. He also says if you take the time to discover your purpose it would be the most important decision of your life.

This process of discovering your purpose is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of aligning your actions with your deepest values. When you live in accordance with your purpose, every choice, no matter how small, becomes a step toward a more fulfilling life. This sense of alignment brings a natural flow and harmony, making it easier to overcome obstacles and maintain a sense of direction, even in the midst of chaos.

Here are 7 keys to maximise your talent.

Teachable

If you want to make the most of your talent then have a teachable attitude. No matter how successful you are there is always something more to learn. Look for mentors in your field, connect with them and look at what they have done to achieve success. Do the same thing and see if you get consistent results. Always have a beginner’s mindset to make the most of your talent.

A teachable spirit is what separates those who plateau from those who continue to grow throughout their lives. It means being humble enough to admit what you don't know and curious enough to seek out new knowledge and perspectives. By actively looking for feedback, engaging with diverse ideas, and viewing every experience as an opportunity to learn, you create an environment where your skills can flourish and evolve beyond their current state.

Attitude

Carol Dweck says there are two types of mindset one is fixed mindset and the other is growth mindset. With a fixed mindset you think your potential is limited and you never do anything which can result in failure. The more desirable one is to adopt the growth mindset and always learn something new from any failure. Also keep growing all the time. You never reach mastery and you can keep tapping into your talent.

Your attitude is the foundation upon which your talent is built; a growth mindset is the catalyst that allows your potential to expand. When you view challenges as opportunities to learn and setbacks as valuable data, you move from a place of fear to a place of possibility. This shift in perspective transforms every failure into a stepping stone, ensuring you are always moving forward and consistently expanding your abilities.

Love what you do

There is a big literature around the passion word. Of course having passion is great but in my opinion if you are passionate about painting but you are not good at it then it will result in pain. You have to find a talent niche where your talent helps you financially as well. The starting point is to love what you do which will then result in you bringing the best in whatever you do all the time. There is no end to maximising your talent if you love what you do. We may not always be good at what we love but if we really become great in what we do then we will be maximising our potential.

When you genuinely love what you do, the line between work and play begins to blur. The dedication required to master your craft doesn't feel like a chore but rather a joyful pursuit. This intrinsic motivation allows you to push through challenges and commit to the deliberate practice necessary for true mastery, because the process itself brings you immense satisfaction.

Energy

To make the most of your talent and tap your highest potential you need a lot of energy. The movers and shakers of this world all have extraordinary energy. Some of the ways to be energetic are to have a positive stance to your life, always staying enthusiastic, loving your work, being pleasant and exercising regularly. Our life has to be in balance just like you need the wheels aligned in a car. The four wheels of our lives are the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. I believe every single personal development author since Stephen Covey has used these concepts, in one form or another. This has been known from the ages and is of course not a new concept. However if we align our lives with those four wheels and take care of them we will have high energy.

Your energy is a finite resource that must be cultivated and protected to sustain long-term success. By maintaining a balance between your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, you create a holistic foundation for peak performance. Neglecting any one of these areas can drain your reserves, making it difficult to maintain the focus and enthusiasm required to fully leverage your talent.

Nice

Sometimes we have seen many highly talented people becoming arrogant because of their achievements. Being nice to everyone never goes out of fashion. You might be great but that doesn't call for you to throw tantrums. Be a pleasant and agreeable person. Be nice to be around. The point of life is to have rich long lasting relationships.

Being nice isn't just a courtesy; it's a strategic asset that enhances your ability to succeed. People are more willing to collaborate, mentor, and support those they find pleasant and trustworthy. By cultivating kindness and humility, you build a network of strong, long-lasting relationships that can open doors and provide invaluable support throughout your career.

Technique

It has been well established that all successful violinists or ballet dancers practice on their technique incessantly. So having all the talent is not enough without deliberate practice. This is where the rubber meets the road. Make a list of your dominant talent and then work relentlessly on your technique to improve in your area of expertise.

Deliberate practice and a relentless focus on technique is the bridge between raw talent and true mastery. It’s about more than just putting in the hours; it’s about a focused, intentional effort to improve specific aspects of your skill. This disciplined approach allows you to break down complex abilities into manageable components, refine them through repetition, and eventually integrate them into a seamless performance.

Avoid Marginal Thinking

We all know the story of Blockbuster being Netflixed. This is due to marginal thinking. You are making a lot of money through your existing business and then you see an opportunity for a new method of business. However when you decide whether to invest in this new opportunity you think that it will not yield greater profits than existing business so you decide not invest in it. However a new competitor doesn't have this option and brings out the new product making your existing business irrelevant. The whole point is we cannot always make decisions on the margin. How does this apply to our lives. It is just a reminder to keep evaluating if what you are doing makes sense now given the new normal and then decide to invest your time in the new activities that makes more sense.

Applying the concept of avoiding marginal thinking to your personal life means constantly questioning whether your current efforts are still the most effective way to achieve your goals. It’s a call to look beyond what’s comfortable and profitable in the short term and to be willing to adapt and evolve. This forward-looking perspective ensures you don't get stuck in old habits that might have served you in the past but are no longer relevant in a changing world.

It is not for us to decide if someone is successful or not. The only choice we have is to determine if we are successful against the standards and definition we set for ourselves. If we attain success against the definition we set for ourselves then we are a success period. We owe it to ourselves to define what success will be for us and live our lives according to the vision we have envisioned.

There is abundance in this world and we have enormous choices to use our talent. As we exercise choices that enhance our lives we eventually go forward and we will reach our Everest. Continuously pursuing our summits is the true joy in life and the journey is more exciting than the reward itself. So go ahead and maximise your talent to bring your best self to the world.

The views expressed here are my own and do not represent my organization.