It is very frustrating when you realize that you don’t seem to be good at anything. Especially when the people around you excel in their passions and are also rewarded for it.
It often seems like it comes effortlessly to them. But talent doesn’t just appear out of nowhere.
There are people who only discover their innate abilities in their forties and then start to develop them. Think of Charles Darwin, Grandma Moses, and Colonel Sanders (Founder of KFC).
The idea that you have no talents is more a result of self-deception and comparing yourself to others than it is the truth.
You’re looking for a skill that comes easily to you and for which you are recognized. Excelling and growing in this skill is what gives you true satisfaction.
That’s why these seven insights are important for changing your mindset that you’re not good at anything.
1. What do you really like?
Only where there is a tremendous will and enjoyment in something can talent be found.
Liking an activity like painting or football is one thing, but having a true desire to engage with it every day is on another level.
If you don’t necessarily feel this strong urge, it’s not a big problem. It simply means that you have an opportunity to explore and discover yourself further. This can only be done by trying new things.
The first question you can ask yourself is: What do I truly enjoy doing?
Think in broad terms such:
- Being creative (shapes, colors, stories)
- Analyzing
- Sports/walking
- Absorbing knowledge
- Social activities
- Caring for others
Once you identify which direction attracts you the most, you can move on to the experimentation phase. Find out what you enjoy the most and whether you excel at it.
Only through this process will you discover where your talents lie. It sometimes takes time to figure out what you’re good at.
2. Genes vs. Skills
Previously, it was believed that talent is a combination of your genes, upbringing, and personality—a fixed attribute that cannot be changed.
However, it is now understood that even without all these factors, you can certainly develop a talent.
Everything is learnable. It’s just that someone who started something at an early age has a significant advantage. But if you have found something that enriches your life and brings you fulfillment, don’t let anything hold you back from becoming talented in that area.
Stay realistic.
It is indeed a fact that becoming a professional football player is challenging if you start after your 30s. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t play football, but it does mean that the opportunities you could have had are no longer attainable.
Important: The goal is not to just have a talent but to derive satisfaction from what you do. The more attention you give to it, the better you become.
3. Developing Qualities
Having a talent doesn’t actually mean much. You may have an advantage over others, but if they desire it more than you do, your talent isn’t worth much.
It is important that, if you want to make use of your qualities, you give them your full attention.
A person without innate qualities who gives themselves 100% is worth more than a talented person without vision.
Characteristics That Will Make You Excel In What You Do:
- Set challenging but achievable goals
- Use deadlines
- Always keep learning and applying
- Find example(s) to follow
- Engage in it daily
Think of a writer like J.K. Rowling. She was rejected by every publisher before. Yet she kept writing, sometimes late into the night.
Eventually, Bloomsbury Publishing decided to give her a chance, and her stories grew into one of the greatest franchises of all time.
4. Reflecting on Yourself
It’s good to take a moment and look back on what you have done. Not to make a definitive decision about whether or not you have talent, but to consider the possible areas where you may need improvement.
What naturally attracts you? You can assess which aspects come so easily to you that you start with them first.
- You have a vivid imagination
- You have great technical insight
- You can make connections
- You can quickly acquire new techniques
These are just a few examples of areas where you may or may not have aptitude that can still be further developed.
Therefore, seek help with things you struggle with or collaborate with others to outsource them.
Why Persistence is the Key to Recognized Qualities
There are countless examples of influential people who were initially labeled as irrelevant and talentless. Take Stephen King, for example. He worked as a janitor but had an enormous passion for writing.
He was initially rejected by publisher after publisher. He faced financial problems and struggled for years to get his work published.
His breakthrough came in 1974 when his novel “Carrie” was finally accepted and published. Now he is regarded as one of the greatest horror writers of all time, with over 60 titles to his name.
Did he lack talent before his success? Certainly not, but he decided to persevere even when nobody recognized his writing abilities.
The ability to believe in yourself may be more important than having an innate aptitude that you settle for.
5. You like the idea of having a talent
The reward of having a talent is often seen in the appreciation of others. When you are celebrated for what you do, it is a sign of “keep doing what you’re doing because you’re good at it.”
What people don’t see is the frustration and exhausting preparation that it took. And that’s precisely what everyone who wants to excel in something must embrace.
Perhaps you think you have no talent because you quickly encounter difficulties that seem too insurmountable.
You can choose to run away from that and comfort yourself with the thought that you’re simply not meant for it.
But even the most talented people on Earth first went through (multiple) years of development and uncertainty before they became skilled and recognized for what they did.
Think of Sylvester Stallone, Lionel Messi, and Steven Spielberg.
This statement from composer Tchaikovsky shows that even the greatest geniuses struggle with getting ideas:
6. You don’t have to be a genius.
The belief that you have no talent already leads to a significant drop in motivation and inspiration.
We tend to highlight certain individuals in history as geniuses who had a profound impact on the next generation. This stems from their distinctive techniques or abilities that provided a completely new perspective on a field, shaping its future.
As a result, you might think it’s not worth it if you don’t possess this level of talent.
Don’t let yourself be discouraged because others are better or are recognized as groundbreaking. You are unique, and that’s what sets apart what you do. The reaction of the audience and your environment is often beyond your control.
Having an aptitude means nothing more than the convergence of pleasure and natural ability, enabling you to do something with ease.
7. Is luck on your side?
So, what role does luck play in having innate talent? Because if you’re just a product of your circumstances, it doesn’t make sense to rely on luck alone.
Luck is where opportunity meets preparation.
If you haven’t had a breakthrough in your passions, it may seem like luck is not on your side. But that never means you are less capable than people who have been “lucky.”
Your Necessary Opportunity Has Not Come Yet
It is something outside your control that may come to you in small or significant ways. You can only encounter these moments of luck if you keep persevering in what you do.
8. Critical Voices That Don’t Motivate You.
When your talent is recognized by others, it is a sign that you are on the right path. But that is not always the case, especially when you have just started something.
However, it can be even more frustrating when people in your surroundings make you feel unsupported in your passions.
But what others think is not a good indication of your abilities or success. As individuals, we have our own tastes and styles, which we project onto things we find beautiful or ugly.
Reflect on whether you weigh too heavily on reactions or criticisms from others. Because they will inevitably come when you step out into the things you love and want to develop.
The key is to find a balance between your passions and realistic goals, gradually progressing with small steps.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the goal is not to define your identity based on having talents. It is much better to have something that brings you fulfillment, even if you’re not as skilled at it as you would like to be. This will come with time, with enough attention and practice.
