Two Greek islanders were vying to become the strongest man on the island.
One trainee bought a newborn calf. The other laughed at him. How could a calf help his rival train? But every day the wise trainee lifted it. Every day the calf got a little bigger and heavier but he could still lift it because it was only a little bit heavier than the previous day. After a year the wise trainee saw the calf was now a bull, but he could still lift it.
In the meantime the unwise trainee had tried every day to lift a bull.
He had failed every time.
Brain Tracy said, “We often overestimate what we could accomplish in a year, and often underestimate what we could accomplish in five.”
It’s the small and achievable changes that we constantly make on a daily basis that causes and creates growth. Many people are expecting “magic beans” that can sprout overnight, yet the reality is that some of the most valuable things in life takes time, effort, and energy to nurture and grow.
This includes nurturing our talents into strengths. Every Talent has a certain level of maturity. They can be raw, which can often lead to problems – or they can be mature, which leads to the ability to contribute and become a strength.
What are some ways we can grow and develop our Talents? Here is one way:
Have a Monthly Talent Focus – Every month, pick one Talent Theme and observe how it affects you at home, at work, and in your relationships.
- Are you using it, overusing it, or not using it enough?
- Is it contributing to the situation, or is it causing problems?
- Does it look raw or mature?
- What other strengths might intensify it, or turn down its intensity?
