If you haven’t put yourself out there as much as you could and turned your passion into a lucrative career, you might look at your more successful peers and start with the negative self talk.
“I’ll never be as good as them.”
“They have some magical quality I don’t.”
“I’m no good.”
Etc.
None of that negative self-talk is accurate, of course. I’ve thrown out a few tips for dealing with it, here and here.
There are, however, two genuine differences between you and your more successful peers. These people have two qualities that you don’t. I hasten to add that they’re not magical qualities, and the first is one you could adopt tomorrow.
Quality #1: They put themselves out there more. They summoned the confidence to weather the haters and the naysayers (including their own self-talk), and they just kept putting themselves out there, relentlessly, consistently, and wisely (adjusting what they do based on actionable feedback).
Quality #2: They are not as talented as you.
I hope we can agree on number one. But how can I make such a bold statement as number two? Here’s how:
In my decades of experience mentoring thousands of creative people, I’ve noticed the ones who breakout almost always have less natural talent than the ones they shoot past.
First, let me clarify that the word talent is loaded. I talk about that here. For now, let’s define talent as “having impressive creative skills.”
The breakouts usually have better social skills and political skills, but they almost always have less creative skill. However, the more they work, grow, and find success, the more they build skills and develop talent.
At the beginning of the journey, the hesitant ones have the advantage in the talent department.
Let this fact give you a confidence boost today.
Go get ’em!
Thanks for this post Scott. I think it's what I really needed to hear/ read this morning.
So, keep showing up and the rest will take care of itself? This is fantastic news, thank you!