‘Seun Tegbe: 3 Important Things You Need To Know About Harnessing Your Talent

My last post on BellaNaija was about talents and how to maximize them in 2016. {Click here if you missed it} I want to use one more post to expand on that before I put this motivational-speaking topic to rest. I personally don’t like or believe in motivational speaking/speakers and I believe that if you need someone to sweet talk you before taking action, then maybe you’re not ready for the difficulty that lies ahead.

While I was writing my book I did a lot of reading on a host of topics; some related to my book, some on how to write and others, just to get my mind of my own material and source for new inspiration. One of the books I read and the only one I still vividly remember was one that spoke of factors influencing careers that involve utilizing one’s talent using writing as an example and how to avoid pitfalls. One of such factors stressed the importance of delaying gratification to becoming successful as a writer (other careers also).
There is always the tendency for a talented person to feel entitled and relentlessly search for a quick payday and in the process neglecting the vital aspect of education (formal and informal) and nurturing a talent. I feel like I need to break this down for clarity.

Talent Requires Nurturing
Every talented person requires a certain level of education, mentoring and nurturing to fully maximize the potentials of such talent. But this is where it gets difficult. Nurturing, although in the natural sense, comes from external sources such as a mother to her child; water, light and air to a plant etc.

It needs to start with you – the individual in possession of the talent; because odds are that not so many other people (including and especially family members and close friends) will see such talent or let alone help in nurturing it until it has blossomed.
People tend to associate with the finished product, the winning team. No one wants to know the years of effort that went into achieving such success as long as you succeed.

I read the story of two internet personalities who are very popular on Instagram and have achieved a level of success in recent years. They were quick to state that their work and efforts did not start with Instagram and Facebook, it started years before Instagram and Facebook became such powerful tools.
One of them said that when he started posting videos on Facebook he used to get about 2-3 likes that made him feel depressed and sometimes even his own family members found it difficult to click the Like button, because they felt he was wasting his time. Many of such people will want to be him today or want to be parts of his success. You get my point.

There Are No ‘Haters’
At least, not as much as people seem to believe. The fact that not many people notice your talent(s) in its early days doesn’t mean they are haters. It means they’re human, humans also struggling with the same issues as you do.

We all want recognition and success, and people are often too busy searching for their own breakthrough to even notice the talent or potential of others. That doesn’t mean that there are no pessimists either. There are those ‘friends’ who will see your obviously superior talent but choose to ignore or devalue it because they can’t measure up and because you’re not yet a star, celebrity or success. That doesn’t mean that your every waking and sleeping thought should be about ‘haters’.
I have very little regard for people who are always talking about ‘haters hating’, and unfortunately, there are many of such. My belief is that if your actions or decisions are decided or influenced by the opinion of imaginary haters then maybe you’re not ready to be a success, or if you’re already a success then you got lucky. Nobody’s hating you, nobody knows you. Start focusing on your own and stop thinking about others.

Money is Not the Only Measure of Success
The talent and efforts of a teacher, doctor, farmer etc. might never earn him the money, fame and celebrity status that many so desire today, but that doesn’t make the importance of such talents and careers any less vital to the growth and sustainability of a community or nation. Only a few (very few) will ever attain the level of wealth and fame that to which almost all youths aspire; and those that do attain such status are not usually necessarily the smartest, best or most talented. It’s just how things work.
Some live their lives knowing they’re never going to own a car but they still lead happy, healthy and fulfilled lives regardless. The beauty of it is that we all get to choose what qualifies as ‘success’ for ourselves. You get to define what you want from your talent and abilities and how you want to utilize it.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary puts the simple definition of talent as: a special ability that allows someone to do something well. The bottom line then is whatever you do, do it well. Remember this saying ‘Abinibi is not the same as ability‘? The truth is a well-mastered ability can and will surpass an unnurtured and undeveloped abinibi any day and anytime. Just abinibi (talent) is never enough it also requires effort to blossom. Enough said.
Be happy. Be safe and be productive.

Photo Credit: Dreamstime