Know Someone Who is Unskilled and Unaware?
Aristotle said, "Know thyself." Sadly, few people have explored the possibilty. I've written before about the fact that lately, I've been confronted with enormous numbers of people in denial. People convinced they are gifted and talented, when the truth is, they're the only people impressed with their work. Control freaks, who deny it. People with anger issues who refuse to believe it. When I meet someone for the first time, the first question I usually ask is "What are you really good at doing?" But it's amazing how few people can answer that question. Find a niche or skill that you can be the best in the world at, and pursue it with everything you've got. This post by Alan Bellows captures the spirit of the problem. Unskilled and Unaware of It. Check it out, and begin a rigorous program of evaluating your gifts, talents, and abilities. In a world of posers, people who have an accurate picture of who they are and where they're going will be more valuable than ever before...
What if someone is really, really good at being a poser? Shouldn't he pursue THAT and be the best in the world at it?
Perez Hilton. Enough Said.
Thanks - Ibne Gokhab Cubuk
Sadly, I've read that many people feel like "imposters." However, those who understand their natural gifts (or temperaments) usually fare better in both the confidence AND humility departments. I recommend that Christians discover their primary (and secondary) gifts. A classic reference book--recently updated--is "Discover Your God-Given Gifts" By Don & Katie Fortune. http://bit.ly/50MOJZ
Sadly I know a lot of people who are incredibly talented, actors, writers, comedians and story tellers but when it comes to having a 9-5 job they are deemed as "Having no marketable skills" or they are called "Un-Skilled Labor". Ironically many of these people need the 9-5 to pay off their student loans. To add insult to injury, it was some no talent middle manager who branded them as "Having no marketable skills". The talent is out there but are those people welcome in the corporate world?
Coupled with the "every kid gets a trophy" mentality, that is a lot of uniformed people :)
I think it comes down to fear.
I'm too afraid of being devestated by the truth to allow someone to speak to my true weaknesses and strenghths.
I'm too afraid of shattering someone's feelings (and be pointed at as a jerk) to give the honest truth.
On the other hand, like the above poster said I've tossed my hand ups plenty of times thinking that I'm a poser as I look at others work, lose a project, etc.
It's a sad shame when the vehicle of a person's ability can't take them where their ambition desires to go. If only we could all find our strengths and play to THOSE, rather thank wasting effort doing something we weren't created to do.
Often people seem to get a sense of their identity in what they do, or purport they do. My identity is in Christ and His work of grace making me a child of God; no room for being a poser in the Kingdom! May the work we do be truly for the Glory of God, with a spirit of excellence, skill and a healthy self awareness. BTW, one of my favorite modern film scenes is where Jim Carey in Dumb and Dumber aske the beautiful girl if he has a chance making it with her. Not to encourage him she says his chance is on out of a million. His response is priceless, "SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THERE'S A CHANCE!"
Always remember, You Are loved!
Warren
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