Talent

In working to better understand ourselves, one of the most important exercises we need to undertake is to evaluate and list our talents.  Talents are generally understood to be those special natural abilities or aptitudes that stand out over numerous other abilities, those that  provide the potential for us to become above average or successful.  They can be considered to be those "seeds of success" that God has planted within everyone's DNA.  In seeking to grasp the meaning of talent, a far more comprehensive definition comes from the authors of the book Now, Discover Your Strengths.  It goes as follows:  "Talent is any recurring pattern of thought, feeling or behavior that can be productively applied."

One of the ways to get a handle on your talents is to evaluate your thoughts.  What are the thoughts that come naturally to you?  What subjects tend to remain pre-eminent with you?  The same question should be applied to your feelings and to your behavior.

Another tool that can become invaluable in defining your talents is the book Strength Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath.  This a a unique book because it provides the means for an online test from the Gallop Organization which will give you a comprehensive Strength Discovery and Action Planning Guide.  With this action plan you will receive your top 5 theme reports and 50 ideas for action (10 for each of your top 5 strengths).

Discover your talents so that you can concentrate and develop them as well as avoiding wasting time trying to become someone God never made you to be.

"Most people think they know what they are good at.  They are usually wrong...and yet, a person can perform only from strength."  (Business Guru, Peter Drucker)