Being aware of your current potential is just as important as putting in the work.
Not too long ago, when I was sitting home scrolling through YouTube watching motivational videos in order to procrastinate on getting my homework done, I stumbled upon something called “The 4 Types of People at work” (or something like that, I can’t recall the exact title of the video). It said something like this:
There are four types of people:
- The one who talk the talk, but do not walk the walk;
- The one who do not talk the talk and do not walk the walk;
- The one who do not talk the talk, but walk the walk;
- The one who talk the talk and walk the walk.
It just simply consists of two actions: the talk and the walk. The talk is the action of telling everybody about your work, what you’re doing and what you’ll do. The walk is the action of putting in the actual work.
Can you figure out the types of person you are yet? Some can clearly see through his or her life and then come up with a conclusion. But others can’t. We need more time to reflect, and actually challenge ourselves in order to accurately address us with one of these types.
Nevertheless, the two most desirable types are the ones who walk the walk, who actually put out work. Because your homework won’t take itself!
But once we decided to jump start pursuing things that we love, another question come up:
“Do I have the ability to do this?”
The one who believe, but do not have the potential
Don’t get me wrong — I appreciate the strong belief in one’s self and the hard work that one puts in to achieve great things in life. But success does not come from just belief. It is a mixture of one’s potential plus the opportunities that come to them, plus the mindset and legacy that their community provides, and countless other possibilities.
Often times, we hear stories about rag-to-riches millionaires, heroes and other people who go a long way from disadvantaged position to a happy, successful life and love to think that they get all the good things by themselves. It’s lovely and motivational to see someone finally get what his/her deserves by his/her own hands — but that’s not always the case.
No one has ever made it alone. — Outliers, Malcom Gladwell
Do not have the gifted talent for one thing does not mean not having anything at all — at least you can try it out, eat and sleep with that for a while and see it for yourself if you can move ahead with that. And whatever happens next, as long as you are having fun with the things you love — then it is okay. No one taxes your dream.
The one who do not believe, and do not have the potential
At first glance you may think if anyone has ever in this case then they are just useless — No! This is the case in which you being aware of what you cannot do and luckily, you can always find something else to try your hand at it. There are things that is just a waste to you, and the sooner you realize it, the quicker you can start developing in the field that you really love and good at.
The one who do not believe but actually have the potential
This case — for me — is the most miserable one of all — since the potential would never be explored, challenged and developed. It’s like the tool has been given to someone who never use it. The knife without using and sharpening in one’s hand just become rusty, and so does a talent.
Put out work.
— Gary Vee
Comparing this situation to the first case and you will see the first one at least would have better results. If you have the belief but do not have the potential — then you would end up in one of two ways. Number one, you find out that you do not have the potential and you are doing just fine with that. Number two, you move on with what you think you are better at. Either case, you learn something new about the field you’ve tried and about yourself.
But in this case — you do not try anything to find what you love and good at (if you haven’t known it yet) or do not make the most out of your talent, then nothing will come out of it.
The one who believe and also have the potential
I must say this is the most desirable case of all the four — but it almost impossible to know in the first place whether you have the potential in anything to give it a try. But since we don’t know our inner potential, why bother thinking about that before actually doing something? The answer is just do it, and figure things out as you move along.
Just a short thought when I stayed in bed before a nap — and I hope I could hear your opinions on it!