At a recent gathering we were asked to bring some food to share and as my culinary skills leave a lot to be desired, I went with, what to me is an easy option. I made some hummus, three different varieties, a lovely chilli and lime; a red jalapeño and a caramelised onion. Yummy, right?
As I was devouring some very tasty homemade ‘proper’ chocolate, I heard “Who made this – it’s delicious?” I turned to see what to try next and saw it was my food being praised, and I modestly smiled thinking, they were being polite.
But the conversation continued, “Try some” “Wow, that is good” “Did you made all these?” “Yes” came my sheepish response because it really is easy to me.
As the hours passed the subject of the food came up again, especially all the homemade delights that we had enjoyed and my hummus was praised once more; “you should sell it – it really is that good” “I can just see the label in Sainsbury’s – Jane’s Hummus!”
However this is something I don’t value about myself and I wasn’t ready for that kind of compliment. I think many of us aren’t good at taking compliments even when its something we know we’re good at.
Enough about me and my hummus, I do have a point here.
What if, what if your talents (because that is what it is when you effortlessly produce something amazing) were exposed, utilised and embraced – what then? Yes, what then?
Have you ever toiled, studied and struggled to do something well? Of course you have. And have you ever been successful at it? Of course you have. But how often does success come easy?
I want you to think about a time when you’ve made little effort and yet you got an amazing response. Did you feel unworthy of the great acclaim because of the little effort you expended?
I think we can be conditioned to think that to be successful we need the toil, the struggle and the painful journey – but what if we don’t?
I just wanted to share my story as it got me thinking and you know by now how much I like to think…..
Take a couple of minutes to remember what you have been recognised for, something you might have brushed aside and thought, Oh they are just being kind, or sociable or polite.
And think, what if they are not? What if we have something here? What could you do with that talent that’s been under appreciated by you?
You could start just by being grateful for what you can do that others appreciate. Start to appreciate yourself, and start to notice all the other talents you have that have gone ignored and undervalued.
You are so much more than your work, there are many parts to you and if you are willing to see past your preconceived limitations, you just never know where that talent might take you.
And who knows – you might just see Jane’s Hummus in local stores one day.
After all, who’d have thought Paul Newman would have created a bestselling pasta sauce?
Undiscovered Talent Wins Big Part
At a recent gathering we were asked to bring some food to share and as my culinary skills leave a lot to be desired, I went with, what to me is an easy option. I made some hummus, three different varieties, a lovely chilli and lime; a red jalapeño and a caramelised onion. Yummy, right?
As I was devouring some very tasty homemade ‘proper’ chocolate, I heard “Who made this – it’s delicious?” I turned to see what to try next and saw it was my food being praised, and I modestly smiled thinking, they were being polite.
But the conversation continued, “Try some” “Wow, that is good” “Did you made all these?” “Yes” came my sheepish response because it really is easy to me.
As the hours passed the subject of the food came up again, especially all the homemade delights that we had enjoyed and my hummus was praised once more; “you should sell it – it really is that good” “I can just see the label in Sainsbury’s – Jane’s Hummus!”
However this is something I don’t value about myself and I wasn’t ready for that kind of compliment. I think many of us aren’t good at taking compliments even when its something we know we’re good at.
Enough about me and my hummus, I do have a point here.
What if, what if your talents (because that is what it is when you effortlessly produce something amazing) were exposed, utilised and embraced – what then? Yes, what then?
Have you ever toiled, studied and struggled to do something well? Of course you have. And have you ever been successful at it? Of course you have. But how often does success come easy?
I want you to think about a time when you’ve made little effort and yet you got an amazing response. Did you feel unworthy of the great acclaim because of the little effort you expended?
I think we can be conditioned to think that to be successful we need the toil, the struggle and the painful journey – but what if we don’t?
I just wanted to share my story as it got me thinking and you know by now how much I like to think…..
Take a couple of minutes to remember what you have been recognised for, something you might have brushed aside and thought, Oh they are just being kind, or sociable or polite.
And think, what if they are not? What if we have something here? What could you do with that talent that’s been under appreciated by you?
You could start just by being grateful for what you can do that others appreciate. Start to appreciate yourself, and start to notice all the other talents you have that have gone ignored and undervalued.
You are so much more than your work, there are many parts to you and if you are willing to see past your preconceived limitations, you just never know where that talent might take you.
And who knows – you might just see Jane’s Hummus in local stores one day.
After all, who’d have thought Paul Newman would have created a bestselling pasta sauce?
Jane Quinn
Director
miworldconsultancy
Categories