Is Talent Enough? 4 Essential Keys to Success

Do you think you’re talented?

That’s a question I’m asked in every job interview.?

If I had let my Imposter Syndrome and introverted personality take hold, then the answer would be “I don’t think so”. But let’s be honest, I wouldn’t be at this career stage without being talented.?

So silencing all that self-doubt and sticking to facts; yes, I am a creatively talented individual. But is talent enough??

I don’t think so. There are four things I’ve learnt that have massively contributed to my success (define your success metrics) and they’re the following:?

1. Privilege?

Acknowledging your privilege is the first step towards humility. Pretending you’re not privileged while being insanely blessed makes you appear..well…a little less likeable. Your privilege could be anything that sets you apart; whether that be attending a top university, having a network of friends in the sector, the influence of your parents or something as vain as your skin colour or something as basic as great communication skills.?

"It's essential to note that privilege intersects with other aspects of identity such as race, gender, and socio-economic background, and acknowledging these intersections is key to understanding the full scope of privilege."

Your privilege opens doors, and the only way you can make it worthwhile is by accepting your privilege and using it to open doors for others. So either you open doors for others or enter one that was opened for you, acknowledge it and move towards humility.

Why would someone open a door for you? Your Talent??

2. Talent?

Either you’re born with talent or you cultivate it through practice, experience, and opportunity (at least for some things since you can’t learn how to be a good singer if you’re not blessed with a good voice). But talent is what makes you a valued member of any society or workplace. If you’re blessed with natural talent then you might have it easier than most but that doesn’t mean you don’t polish it. Where some would be learning from scratch, you would be ahead of the game because of your blessed genes, but there will come a time when both beginners and those with intermediate skills stand on the same podium as experts.

That is where you require the next skill, which is Hard Work.?

3. Hard Work

This is something I think is more valuable than talent since I’ve seen many lazy artists waste their potential whereas great duds became leaders. Hard Work is essential for anything you do, whether it be polishing your skills, learning new ones or just hustling to get your foot in the door.?

I have been complimented for my communication skills throughout my career and where my privilege of attending good schools and my talent to use words effectively have been major contributing factors to developing this skill, what many do not realise is that I have spent years learning this skill from books, seminars, voice coaches, acting exercises and from personal failed pitch presentations. I did have the talent, but I have worked twice as hard to get to a point where I can use it to my benefit. I’m still an introvert who hates public speaking but my hard work has paid off because you can ask anyone in any room I’ve spoken at and they wouldn’t be able to tell you when they thought my legs were shaking under the podium (they do, A LOT).?

Work hard till you are the hardest working person in the room because then if you even try to impose your imposter syndrome, you won’t be able to because both your physical and mental muscles would be aching to be credited for their contributions.

But all these skills require one small special ingredient that sets you apart from the rest and that is luck.

4. Luck?

I can hear the loud sigh of disappointment from all readers, saying ‘Well this was a waste of time, if we have to rely on luck, what’s the point then.’?

I completely understand, I would do the same. But hear me out!?

Luck isn’t magical fairy dust that is showered on some people and changes their lives while ignoring the rest. Sure, we do have life-changing incidents, but for most people, life isn’t all magic and wonder. It’s failure, disappointment, hopelessness, I could go on and on…

But luck, as per my spiritual godmother; Oprah, is when preparation meets opportunity. I believe in that completely because you have to put in the work, you have to be prepared for whenever there comes an opportunity for your talent to be hired, without that you would have nothing to offer. And with over 6 years of being in this creative industry, I can tell you, that there is opportunity, and there is a dire need for talent but are you prepared for it, that is the biggest question.

So as you enter into any industry, go through these four points and work on the following action items:

1. Identify your privilege and look for avenues where you can utilise it.?
2. Reflect on your talent and nurture it.??
3. Create a plan on what requires the most work from you and get to it.
4. As for luck, it will find you itself, just be prepared when it does.?

(Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in this article are my own and should not be considered the absolute truth. Everything is and should be open to discussion. This is based solely on personal experience)