Are you ‘gifted?’ It’s not what you think
Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash
Gifted.
If you go anywhere near a gym or field, that term gets tossed around quite a bit.
As in, he’s a gifted receiver.
Or she’s a gifted passer.
Be careful. That’s a dangerous label to stick on someone’s lapel.
For some, we probably should tape a sign to their backs that reads, “Kick me.” Because that’s exactly what we do to these “gifted” young men and women when they don’t live up to our expectations.
Now, I’m not suggesting we drop the word from the English language. Not at all.
But I will offer this: Can we at least change the way we view the word?
Maybe we can even create a new slogan to hang on our walls.
“Gifted. It’s not what you think.”
Yeah. I like that.
IT’S NOT FAME
Gifted.
Be honest. The first thing you think of when you hear that term is a prodigy or freak of some sort, right?
The high schooler who goes straight to the majors.
The 12-year-old computer programmer.
The dude who wins “America’s Got Talent.”
In other words, gifted has become another way of saying “the best” or “famous.”
But here’s a question: Is it possible to be gifted and NOT play in the NBA? Is it possible to be gifted and choose a career that’s NOT in the public eye?
Yes. It is.
Remember our slogan ...
“Gifted. It’s not what you think.”
A NEW FORMULA
Gifted.
Here’s the way we should use that word: it’s simply a synonym for “potential.”
And that should be GREAT news for people like you and me.
Gifted would no longer be something only to admire from afar. Instead, it would be something to claim as our own.
Because here’s the reality: We are ALL gifted in some way.
The older I get, the more athletes and musicians and service providers I’m in contact with, the more it becomes apparent.
Yes, YOU are gifted. And here’s the true gift we’ve all received: It’s discovering something you enjoy doing so much that you’re willing to spend hours upon hours honing your craft.
Did you catch that?
Being “gifted” is your potential to be good at something, developing a deep interest in that something, then having the desire to become really, really good at it.
Here’s a formula to remember: Potential + Interest + Desire to excel = Gifted.
So don’t forget about our slogan ...
“Gifted. It’s not what you think.”
GIVE IT AWAY
Gifted.
I don’t want to hear your excuses anymore.
We are ALL gifted at SOMETHING. Yes, even you.
•The plumber
•The mechanic
•The tree guy
•The teacher
•The police officer
•The attorney
•The tech person at church
At some point in their lives, they all displayed a tendency to be pretty good in those areas. Then that tendency turned into a deeper interest to learn more. Then that interest turned into a desire to get better and better at what they were learning.
But they’re rarely in the public eye. And few of us take the time to notice and affirm them. That’s why we don’t think of them as gifted.
And that’s OK, because we really aren’t gifted to become famous — that’s on us. As a society, we’ve made the choice to idolize athletes and entertainers.
In the end, your gift really isn’t about you and what you can get from it. You’ve been given a gift to share it with others. It’s a platform to serve, impact and influence those around you.
Yet when you share it — when you give it away — YOU actually find great joy.
This is just between you and me, but I’m going to let you in on a little secret: Those who really excel at what they do and earn the biggest salaries would actually do it for FREE.
In most cases, that’s how they became really good. Practicing things over and over, when no one was looking, and when no one was willing to pay for it.
Remember our slogan ...
“Gifted. It’s not what you think.”
LOVE THE PROCESS
Do you know why LeBron works out for hours upon hours each day?
And Jordan Speith. Do you know he won’t leave a practice round without sinking 100 putts in a row?
And Steve Jobs. When he was running Apple, everyone talked about what a gifted presenter he was. Did you know he would rehearse his presentations hundreds of times before ever talking to an audience?
Makes sense, right? They found something in their lives they enjoyed so much that they fell in love with the process of becoming better at it.
Your gift really isn’t about the fame.
Your gift really isn’t about the money.
In reality, you have no control over those things anyway. It’s OTHERS who decide to watch you or pay you.
Instead, focus on those few things you just can’t stop doing. Those activities you pursue where you lose track of time.
THAT’S your gift.
But only if you share it with us at some point.
I know I’ve taken the long way around to make my point today, so if it helps, just reflect on our slogan: “Gifted. It’s not what you think.”
As you may have guessed by now, it’s not what you think. It’s all about what you DO.
Over and over and over again.