When You Find Your Calling in Life, the Money Will Follow

Most of us do not figure out, until we well into our adult years, what we are really good at.

As an example, after I completed my Rich Habits Study in 2009, I decided to step outside my comfort zone and write a book. Almost immediately, I realized that writing came easy to me, that I was at my happiest writing and that I wanted to write all the time.

I was 48 when I wrote that first book, Rich Habits. Eventually, the book caught on and became a huge bestseller in the Canada, the U.S., India, and a few other English-speaking countries.

In other words, the world rewarded me for engaging in my innate talent.

Before Rich Habits took off, in an effort to promote my new book, I sought out free speaking engagements with many organizations. During 2010 – 2012, I must have done over 150 free speaking engagements. After a handful of these speaking events, I was amazed how easy it was for me to get up in front of a crowd and speak, how much I enjoyed it and how I immediately wanted to go out and speak again. I now get paid a lot of money to speak.

In other words, the world rewarded me for engaging in my innate talent.

Everyone has certain innate talents that are written into their DNA the moment they are conceived in the womb. Unfortunately, only a small percentage actually discover what their innate talents are during their lifetime. How can you identify if you have an innate talent?

There are three tests every innate talent must pass.

The Easy Test

You’ve probably known people who seem to pick certain things up very easy. You’ve no doubt heard comments like, “tennis just comes easy to her” or “he’s a natural” or, “she was a math wiz at a young age”.Those who engage in an activity they have an innate talent for, have a much easier time learning the skills inherent in the activity. and also enjoy engaging in the activity. When you see someone take up a new activity and they very quickly become proficient, almost certainly they have stumbled upon an innate talent they never knew they possessed.

So, one way for you to identify an innate talent is when an activity is just easier for you to learn than it is for others.

The Happiness Test

Almost everyone who discovers an innate talent, reports how much they enjoy engaging in the activity. Just ask Jimmy Connors or Leonardo Da Vinci or Bill Gates or John D. Rockefeller. In biographies I read on these successful individuals, one of the common threads I found from my reading, linking all four, was how much each one said they loved what they did for a living. They were happiest when engaged in their innate talent.

So, the second way to identify an innate talent is when you feel happy while engaging in it.

The Obsession Test

Practice makes perfect. But how many of us actually enjoy practicing something that is hard work?

Evan Lendl was considered the hardest working professional tennis player during his time. Some years ago he gave an interview to the media about his practice routine. He said he practiced at least 6 hours every day and that he had a very specific practice routine. He would hit a repetitive number of backhands down the line, then hit a repetitive number of backhands cross court, then hit a repetitive number of backhands down the middle of the court. He would then hit a repetitive number of backhands while running to the left, then hit a repetitive number of backhands when backing up, then he would hit a repetitive number of backhands while approaching the net. He had similar routines for his other strokes: forehand, serve, overheads and volleys.

The reporter asked Lendl how he was able to practice so much. He replied that he couldn’t help himself. He was simply obsessed with getting better at tennis.

So, the third way to identify an innate talent is when you become obsessed with it 24/7.

The lesson here is that you will know you discovered an innate talent when: it come easy to you, it makes you happy and you become obsessed about it.

And, when you engage in your innate talent, the world will reward you.