Wasted Talent | Career Angles

There have been many stories about athletes who squandered their talent, preferring drugs, alcohol, and other forms of abuse rather than taking advantage of their talents and abilities. The same is true of musicians, entertainers, and people in other forms of life to surrender to their addictions instead of bringing their talents to the world.

These cases are obvious. People have died as a result of their addictions. I have first-hand experience with being the survivor of someone who did.

But what about the people who are talented who never really try? Too often, they get a pass and are allowed to flounder rather than be challenged to be excellent.

There is a wonderful old saying, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”

I think that’s a great simplification because people can work hard on the wrong things. I’ve done that, too.

But most people have been conditioned been to take the easy way, rather than push and expended effort.

The Monday morning quarterback others, taking shots at them, rather than risk failure. As a result, they fail but build in an excuse for it.

Talent is like a garden that needs tending. If it isn’t cultivated in fed properly, weeds grow everywhere. Weeds, like negative thoughts, need to be pulled…