guru_trader
485 posts
msg #70761
- Ignore guru_trader |
1/17/2009 4:57:06 AM
A Little Help from Your Friends: Tap Into the Hidden Potential of the People Around You
Do you have a dream? If you’re like most people, the answer is “yes” -- or, more likely, “yes, but…” Just about everyone has a dream they’d love to pursue, but they just don’t know how.
What you need is a little expert advice. The TV line-up is chock-full of shows that promise just that. But chances are, you’re already surrounded by people who can give you the knowledge you need to get moving towards your dreams. You can be forgiven for not recognizing it; probably they don’t realize it themselves.
Everyone develops a body of unique skills and talents in the course of living, almost all of which can be widely applied. It can often take a creative eye to see these hidden potentials for what they are: a lifetime of expertise masquerading as everyday life. Who are these unwitting experts? Your friends, family, and colleagues, of course.
How many people do you know who excel at something so much that it’s become a defining part of their character? Instead of just admiring them for it, why not pay them the greater compliment of learning from them, of letting them set an example for you in the pursuit of your dreams?
What kind of understanding might you find hidden in the strengths of your friends and loved ones?
The natural storyteller: how to weave compelling narratives; how to grab and hold onto people’s attention; how to set people at ease
The slacker: how to relax; how to roll with the punches; how to accept criticism without letting it define you
The social butterfly: how to connect with strangers; how to present yourself professionally; how to avoid being defined by your weaknesses; how to listen
The entrepreneur: how to face adversity; how to understand financial data; how to plan for the unknown
The organizer: how to rally people to your cause; how to balance contradictory demands; how to stay cool under pressure
These are just a few examples of different types of people that almost everyone knows. Don’t dismiss people’s talents just because their accomplishments are small -- even the simplest achievement might be the outcome of an encyclopedic knowledge.
You might be surprised what you learn. And, just as important, they might be surprised at what you learn. You could be opening their eyes, maybe for the first time, to their own hidden talents. And what could be a better gift than that?
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Responses:
"We Are the Sum Total of the Five People We Spend The Most Time With." Jim Rohn - Business Philosopher
I love this quote. In thinking about this post it made me ask "What if the 5 people I spend the most time with don't have the traits named above?"
If no one around you personifies a trait you'd like to develop you might want to consider pursuing a hobby you've been scared to.
A hobby that involves other people. A hobby in which people with the same interests as you get together and enjoy each others company.
Some people (myself included) are not natural social lites. But haven't you ever struck up a conversation with some random person and found out they had a similar interest you did which triggered an awesome conversation? Maybe even a friendship.
This happens naturally when you pursue hobbies that genuinely meet your core desires.
Try this. I seen it work magic in my life. Maybe it will for you too.
Note Taking Nerd #2
http://www.mynotetakingnerd.wordpress.com
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