Most economies in the world are shrinking, and the South African economy is under huge pressure, collapsing. There are high rates of unemployment, yet humanity is expected to survive and be happy.

We are our best when we are happy. I’ve realized that most people who are successful in life, have found something they love, and became good at it. Nobody buys from anybody because they are there. People buy from you because you are exceptional. So, you’ve got to find something that you are good at, and you’ve got to become great at it.

Most people are not happy because they are doing jobs they don’t like. Some even hate their jobs. Most people are doing a job just to survive and earn a living. This is counterproductive because we are meant to happy. God brought us on earth for His purpose. The Bible say “He knew us before we were even conceived. Which means each and every one of us were carefully made and packaged. I personally believe that we were created for God’s purpose, and it includes us being happy.

Each and everyone of us has been packaged with talents and gifts, to help us serve our purpose on earth. To each and everyone of us, He gave abilities, e.g., an ability to walk, an ability to talk, an ability to think, an ability to hear, an ability to carry things etc. All of these were given so that we can function effectively and be productive. When we function according to God’s purpose here on earth, we become happy, because we are doing what we are meant to be doing.

To each and every man He gave a talent. To one he gave (five)5 talents, to another (two)2, and to another one (1), and to every man according to his ability. Which means there are those who’ll have more than one talent. It is normal. It is according to how Jehovah has given.

People find themselves in jobs where they don’t use their talents. The result thereof is that they are unhappy throughout their careers. Unhappiness results in diseases and sickness in their bodies.

The question now is “How many of you are using your talents daily in your jobs, your businesses, your marriages, your relationships with other people etc?”  In most cases I hear people saying they don’t know their talents. These are people who’ll be unhappy because they are not using their talents in their life. Well, if you are that person, here’s an Exercise that’ll help you to find what you love and what you are good at. Do it openly and honestly, and your life will never be the same again.

 

EXERCISE

STEP 1:

Make a list of your Skills and Interests in two columns and WRITE THEM DOWN.

The KEY to this is to WRITE THESE DOWN!!!  Don’t think you can do it all in your head.  WRITE IT DOWN.

Skills are (What are you good at/with?)

What I mean by skills is any skill.  It could be an intangible skill.  Think of EVERY skill you have.  It could be programming, making web pages, talking, listening, persuading people, typing, flirting, analysing, giving speeches, making things easy to understand, whistling, blowing bubbles with your spit, it could be anything.  Don’t be bashful. List everything you perceive your skills to be.

Interests are (What interests you/ what do you like/love?)

On your other column, lists your interests.  List EVERY interest you could possibly think of.  Spiders, shoes, hair, makeup, basketball, tennis, thinking of ideas, babysitting, walking, hiking, fireworks, helping people, making fun of people, fishing, exercising, karate, seashells, seaweed, can openers, anything goes.

Your interests can also include subjects you are knowledgeable about as well. Computers, economics, biology, basketball plays, football/soccer, magic tricks, etc.

To help you write down more interests, think of what you were interested in at school and write them down.  Also, think of what you were NOT interested in at school and write the exact opposite.

Asking yourself the following questions may shed some light as to what skills and interests you possess:

 

• What kind of magazines or books to you like to read?
• What kind of movies do you enjoy watching?
• What do you enjoy doing (during your spare time)?
• What do you spend money on?
• What do like to give advice on?
• Ask friends for any skills and interests they see in you.
• What do you spend most of your time doing?
• Go back and think of your accomplishments as a child.  What kind of skills and interests revolved around your accomplishments?
• What did people praise you on?
• What did your teachers or parents say you had a skill of?

 

Why am I emphasizing skills and interests here?

Because in your job or business, you’ve got to use what you’re strong with (skills).  And don’t say you don’t have any skills.  Everybody has skills.  You’ve just never sat down and thought about it and wrote it down.

You’ve got to love what you do (interests).  By including interests, you include another form of an anti-quitting mechanism. You’ll never quit what you love. That’s why interests are important.

 

AND PLEASE WRITE DOWN YOUR ANSWERS!

The reason why it is important to write your answers is:

• It allows you to “free room” in your brain for new thoughts.
• If I ask you, what’s 257 times 852, try doing that in your head vs. writing it down.  When you write it down, the answer comes out easier, not to mention more accurate.

 

NB: If you are doing this exercise honestly, you may find that your skills are gravitating toward ONE or TWO particular skills.  The same may hold true for interests.

 

STEP 2:

Set aside some TRUE alone time with no distractions to focus and figure out what you love to do by asking yourself the right questions.

It amazes me how people set aside time for cooking, watching movies, reading, but when it comes to their own personal future, they NEVER set aside any time.

 

In this step, Clarity is key.  The clearer the question, the easier the answer will be.

 

Based on Your Skills and Interests that you have listed Ask yourself this question:

(a). What would I love to do on a daily basis utilizing both my skills and interests?

LOOK AT A SKILL, AND PAIR IT WITH A CORRESPONDING INTEREST.

Write down all your answers.  Do it until you have 20 answers and look them over.  You will find that as you write down answers and look at them, it will in turn propel you to think of new creative answers that you would not have come up with before.

Ask yourself this question:

(b). Will my answer on (a) add significant value to people? How?

 

Why did I add the add value part?  Because in this exercise we are designing a JOB or BUSINESS for you. By including the question of how to add significant value by utilizing your skills, you automatically filter out all the “common answers” that people come up with when asked what they love to do.  Common answers such as:  “I love to watch TV.”  Or “I love to play video games.”  How do you make money out of such?

Answers such as this discourage people because they see no way of making money from it. So, we add the value part because we want you to make money out of what you love.  “When you know how you can add value to people, you’ll know how to get money”.

Most business owners tend to make the mistake of focusing on how to make money.  A lot of people fail to realize that money is just a by-product of adding value in the form of a product or service to people.

 

So, look over the list you just made and choose one idea that seems the most appealing to you.  You may find you can combine a few ideas into one idea.  Nevertheless, choose one idea that you will garner the greatest satisfaction not just for yourself, but to other people.

 

How will you know you’ve found the answer?

It must make you feel good. If you feel it in your gut, then it is the one. Your intuition/gut feel will tell you. You will feel at ease with the answer you came up with.

 

STEP 3: Industry and Vocation

Based on your answers:

• What is your Industry?
• What will be your JOB/Business?

 

I would like to hear your COMMENTS and how this Exercise has helped you.