Gifts & Talents

Self Life Coach Series #3

We all have gifts and talents. Gifts are the talents we are born with and develop over our lives. For example, my son is musical and I am tone deaf. Music is a gift he has and he has learned skills (like how to play the guitar) to make the most of his musical gift. Hopefully you know what you are good at and where your strengths lie.

I’m going to go our on a limb with an exception, you could have a talent that didn’t come naturally to you but you wanted it so bad you practiced and practiced over time and you have developed it into a special gift. I would say, not only does that count as a gift and talent, it also shows you are determined too.

What are you good at?

What do your friends tell you you do well? Look at what you enjoy doing most (it is probably something that connected to a natural gift)?  Just start jotting these gifts & talents down on page 6 in your workbook. What are you better at than the average person?  After you come up with a few on your own then refer to the list on page 7 in your workbook to come up with even more.

If you are a little stuck, ask people you respect, they may bring up things you don’t even realize you are good at. Another way to recognize your gifts and talents is to actually compare yourself to the average people you know. I hate to tell you to “compare,” but in this case we are looking for what you are better at not less than at- make sense?

Suggestions of gift & talents

• Public Speaking
• Writing
• Self Management
• Critical Thinking
• Decision Making
• Math
• Research
• Relaxation
• Accounting
• Bookkeeping
• Taxes
• Legal
• Marketing
• Generosity
• Advertising
• Graphics
• Music
• Art
• Drawing
• Photography
• Woodworking
• Video Creation
• Website
• Wisdom
• Programming
• Jokes / Humor
• Articulate
• Creativity
• Innovation
• Trouble-shooter
• Foreign Language
• Academics
• Money Management
• Sign Language
• Enthusiasm
• Teaching / Training
• High Energy
• Negotiating Skills
• Identify Strengths and Weaknesses
• Planning
• Leadership
• Listening
• Reading
• Persuasive
• Ability to deal with Failure
• Typing
• Initiative
• Strategic Planning
• Intuition
• Imaginative
• Future Thinking
• Analyzing the Past
• Personal Productivity
• Time Management
• Financial Planning
• Ability to spot new Trends
• Raise Money
• Inspiring
• Story Telling
• Ability to make Friends
• Communication Skills
• Project Management
• Creating Order
• Sales
• Problem Solving
• Hospitality
• Detail Orientation
• Social Networking
• Logistics
• Social Intelligence
• Relieve Stress
• Asking Questions
• Volunteering
• Risk Management
• Hiring / Recruiting
• Self Control
• Health / Fitness
• Reliability
• Dexterity
• Juggling
• Magic
• Singing
• Visualization
• Adaptability
• Inventiveness
• Imagination
• Athleticism
• People Judgment
• Awareness
• Integrity / Honesty
• Empathy
• Self-Discipline
• Encouraging
• Software
• Computers / IT
• Affiliate systems
• Financial Management
• Human Resources
• Meeting management
• Learner
• Teaching
• Systems management
• Brainstorming
• Positiveness
• Making Connections
• Ability to focus
• Ability to handle Change
• Conflict Resolution
• Self-Assurance
• Maintenance / Routine Tasks
• Futuristic
• Fairness
• Administration
• Wisdom
• (there are so so many more!)

Narrow down your gifts & talents

What are the talents that you are best at? Just like we narrowed your Values down, narrow down these gifts and talents too. Ask yourself, am I better at cooking or drawing? keep comparing your gifts until you have 10 in order of talent.

You are really progressing along this program well. I hope you are enjoying this process as you go and learning along the way. Remember to record your personal insights whenever they pop up on the back of a page in your workbook. And at any time if you have any questions please comment below and I’ll get back to you as fast as I can.

Use this list of gifts and talents to make choices in your life. Think about how they play out in your daily life. Other things to consider are…

• Do you have a gift or talent that you would like to pursue making stronger?
• Are you developing your favorite talents?
• How does performing your gift or talent make you feel?
• What was the earliest gift and talent to appear in your childhood? (for example, I was decorating Barbie houses…)
• What gifts and talents work well with your highest needs and values?

NEXT Self Life Coach Series #4: Priorities

PREVIOUS Self Life Coach Series #2: Values