Good morning!

While I was on the plane to Chicago to visit my relatives for the holidays, I was reading It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be, the best-selling book by Paul Arden, and I came across this quote:

Talent helps, but it won’t take you as far as ambition. Everybody wants to be good, but not many are prepared to make the sacrifices it takes to be great.

I can think of a handful of people in my life who are disgustingly talented.  Most people in my life are talented in some way or another, (because I roll with awesome people), but some are just flat out disgustingly talented. When I say disgustingly talented, I mean that their artistic abilities make me feel like a 4-year-old who can’t stay in the lines. Except that I’m a 22-year-old who can’t stay in the lines… The point is, a few of these people definitely have talent, but they are lacking the drive.

Two of the freshest examples I can think of are, “I want to write, but I can’t find a job as a writer.” “I love to paint, but I don’t know how to make money doing it.” Well, my advice is that you’re not going to get paid to write by talking about not getting paid to write.

If you want to write, write. If you want to paint, paint. It may not pay off monetarily right away, but it’s a stepping-stone to get where you want to be.

In honor of the upcoming New Year, inevitably on its way, I propose that you take whatever talent you may have and put it to good use. Especially if you are actively looking for a job, it’s important to not neurotically check your email waiting for a message from that company you applied for three weeks ago. (This practice will drive you nuts… I was one of those neurotic email checkers). Instead, think about what you’re good at, and work toward perfecting it.

Don’t sit on your skills any longer… do yourself a favor and harness them, embrace them, and share them! Who knows – you may even find yourself a job (or create a job) that you never knew existed in the first place.

I hope you have a wonderful time welcoming the New Year, and I’ll see you in 2012!

[In 2012, I am doing things a little backwards. For my big “New Years resolution," I have the ambition, but definitely do NOT have the talent. I am going to attempt to train for a ½ marathon. At this point, I can barely run a mile. Wish me luck!]