Talent = luck = talent

Last year sometime I wrote an article about the connection, or lack of it, between being smart and making money. In case you missed it here is a link to that piece of text : http://www.techleader.co.za/ronnieapteker/2008/07/20/you-dont-have-to-be-smart-to-make-money/

The short conclusion, from my perspective, is that there is no connection between being smart and making money. I know many really clever people that are seriously broke, and I am know many dumb clowns that have made fortunes. Of course, I also know many smart people too that have made a lot of money.

I was very far away over this Christmas period, up North, in some cold parts of the world. I met a lot of different people there and they challenged my ways of thinking and gave me a lot of food for thought. This one person I met, for example, looked so full of life and so intelligent. And I said to her "You could do anything in this world." And she looked at me and said "But I have no real talents. So what if I am intelligent."

And then it hit me! It is like I was saying in that article I mention above. Yes, there is no connection between being clever and making money. Having something unique for the world, a talent, a gift, an inspired business proposition, a special offering, now that can make money. But being clever means babkas; many stupid people make money and many clever people are dirt poor!

Maybe that is what luck is; maybe luck is about talent. Yes, being born with a talent is indeed lucky! But as I also have written before, we can change our luck. Perhaps recognizing your own unique gifts and talents is the first step in becoming luckier. And then, focusing on where you are strong and getting other people to help you where you are weak will also change your luck for the better.

Everyone, in my view, is born with some kind of gift or talent. Use your talents to your advantage; that will indeed make you luckier!

Posted by Ronnie Apteker