Page 126 - Talane Miedaner - Coach Yourself to a New Career_ 7 Steps to Reinventing Your Professional Life (2010)

114 COACH YOURSELF TO A NEW CAREER

had finished coaching at ten p.m., I was so energized that I’d have
trouble getting to sleep. Most people experience the same effect.
When we are doing something we are hardwired to do—an innate
talent—and it is in alignment with one of our top values, not only
can we quickly become masterful, but also we get naturally ener-
gized from the task.
Conversely, when you do something for which you aren’t nat-
urally built, your energy can drain away. That doesn’t mean you
won’t do a good job. If you are smart enough or work hard enough,
you can learn to do all sorts of things and do them well. Just pre-
pare yourself for the fact that it may take more time, energy, and
practice for you than the next person. One client holds three
advanced degrees but has always had difficulty remembering
what she has read. When asked how she succeeded academically,
she admitted that when everyone else was out sharing a pizza on a
Friday night, she’d be home reading the textbook for a third time.
Our passions and interests can make up for a lack of natural abil-
ity. On the other hand, it is less likely that you’ll encounter a top
musician who doesn’t have raw musical talent, because the field is
so competitive that those without the talent are soon overtaken by
those with that inherent ability. Although, Madonna is an excel-
lent example of a singer who didn’t have much natural talent to
start but over the years has significantly improved her singing
voice. So, don’t let a lack of natural talent stop you if you have the
passion!
There are two types of values related to this topic. The first
type are often subconscious; we aren’t actually aware of how
they influence and affect our daily lives. I call these our hidden
motivators. These are the values that determine the choices we
make in life: what cars we drive, why we pursue a certain career
over another, how we spend our money, and so on. The second
type are the core values, and those are simply the things that we
love to do—our passions. These are often, but not always, more
obvious. For example, you may be fully aware that you are pas-
sionate about fine wines, traveling, or stamp collecting but may
not be aware of the particular core value behind these different
activities. Once you identify that core value, it is easier to discover