The Power of Talent (Blog)

[Erin Pavlina]

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Erin Pavlina's blog:

The Power of Talent

[ArthurHung]

Beautiful, automatically my favorite out of all your posts actually.

It's funny though, some things that one may think they aren't mean to do could do wonders for them. I am naturally good and enjoy dancing, but recently I've been doing a lot of rockclimbing. Rockclimbing helps ones forearms tremendously, and I could see that continuing to do this, which brings new relationships (tons of lightworkers do rockclimbing), will also help me pull off some breakdancing moves that I'm not currently strong enough to do (which will further help me develop deeper relationships with dancers that I know).

I didn't really enjoy rockclimbing the first time I did it. I actually told the person who brought me there that I'd be quite happy to never do it again, even though it was easy for me and I was good at it. Just felt that it wasn't my thing. But when I found that it's an activity that would both benefit me and others a great deal, and after I learned more about it, I found myself enjoying it finely, like a food that's an acquired taste.

[BeetrootChessElf]

As someone who has read your blog since its inception (having read Steve's for at least a year before that), I'm not sure if I've taken the time to write in the "Erin" forum before now (largely because I kept forgetting my password!).

Simply HAD to write on this occasion. Loved this post. I had almost exactly the same experience as you, but I am now often the envy of highly-graded pianists (on paper I'm only grade 1!) who have had their creative and improvisational potential (or rather their belief in it) drummed out of them through years of learning to play unthinkingly (and sadly in some cases "unfeelingly" too) from score.

I love that your closing paragraphs are intended to arouse people to think about the idea of "playing by ear" in contexts outside of the obvious musical ones. As a teacher that has got me thinking more widely about adapting my approach to the learning styles of those I teach.

Interesting comments from Arthur. I love the idea of "cross-training" in non-sporting contexts. Having found touchtyping a bore, I eventually learned it with relish when it dawned on me it would help me be able to play piano from score without looking down at the keys. I am now finally beginning to be able to play from score as well as my graded peers without losing my creative edge.

Thanks so much for writing this post Erin. (-:

Paul Hindess
YouTube - BeetrootChessElf's Channel

[rhonda524]

Sometimes I think I am good or talented at something. For instance, I think I am a good public speaker. Then I was watching American idol one night in the early part of the season. There were all these people trying out that really sucked and some of them really thought they were good. I mean, I realize some know they suck and just want their 15 minutes of fame, but I think that some of them really think they were good and were just devastated when told that they were horrible. I mean how can someone who sings that out of tune think that they have talent.?They are so out of touch with what the rest of us are hearing. Anyway, my point is, maybe me thinking that I am a good public speaker is the same. What if I really suck. Badly. Can I really trust my own feeling of what my talents are or do I need confirmation from others? Am I really good or do I suffer from the same distorted perception as some of the contestants on idol? It just made me think about how much we can really trust our own perceptions of our talent.

[Rachelle]

Erin!

It was so nice to read this blog post. I'm the exact same way when it comes to the piano! I am horrible at sight reading music and my skills are next to nil in that area. But playing my ear and intuitively? I can do that, baby! I've always wanted to give a shot at composing, too. I used to want to be a composer when I was in the 4th grade (as well as a writer, and an astronaut).


Did you use a computer program to help you compose music? I mean - if you want to write down your compositions in sheet-music form.

[Erin Pavlina]

When I did the Midi music for Steve's early games we used a computer program hooked up to my synthesizer. I played what I wanted, and it recorded it. Then I could fix individual notes if I had screwed up, intead of starting over and trying to get a perfect recording.

When we did the music for Olympus I was working with a very talented musician named Igor Pogosyan. He had a kick ass synthesizer (can't remember the name) and it recorded directly in the machine. Then we burned it to a CD. I should share some of that music we made for Olympus. I am so proud of it but it's never seen the light of day.

[Matt Willard]

This post accurately sums up INNER BADASS RULE #39:

"Find your own way that works."

[StellaBlue]

I feel like you wrote this one just for me. Nice timing .

[Ace22]

Boy did you hit a sore topic. I've had my music heroes tell me the I'm really talented. The Wave magazine called me the "guitar god of silicon valley".

Yet I still haven't gotten that email from David Bowie.

[Erin Pavlina]

Why do you need an email from him? Do what you do best and build your own following. Then maybe one day he'll come knocking on YOUR door

[pianoperformer]

I really liked this post, too. Thankfully I've been well-aware of my talent from a young age, but I guess there could be other talents I'm not really aware of, though I have no idea what those could be.

[Ace22]

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

Why do you need an email from him? Do what you do best and build your own following. Then maybe one day he'll come knocking on YOUR door

Your so sweet . The music business isn't what it was 5 years ago. Make that 2 years ago.

I've recorded 4 albums. I just googled myself and got "about" 1,270,000 hits.

I'm sure somewhere in David Bowie's household there's a piece of junk mail with one of my albums on it.

BTW, David Bowie is a metaphor. I don't care if it's David Crosby, David Lee Roth or even Davey Jones of the Monkees. It's gotten really hard for the "almost famous" in the music business. At the same time it's gotten easier to get regional attention and fame. But just look at Myspace (in general) it's full of wannabes.

Remember record stores?

[Erin Pavlina]

I loves me some Davey Jones.

[Ace22]

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

I loves me some Davey Jones.

lol, Did you know that David Bowie's real name is David Jones? But he had to change it when the Monkees became a hit TV show.

So Erin has a Jones Jones........

[Footballman]

I think I have a talent for soccer(it feels like an innate gift I've always had), and also other things as well like I enjoy playing the guitar(doesn't feel an innate gift but I enjoy playing).

One of my issues is that I don't think I have ever 'tested' my potential. For instance, I was captain of the school soccer teams without even trying really. I've always loved the game, but my 'loves' in life have never taken the front seat - always the back seat and I'm starting to think that may be the problem.
One of Steve's entry's was about how we cannot compartmentalize our lives, this got me thinking...since I've always been doing things I don't like in life - trying to please others through academia during most of my adulescence and studying a degree which I hate...maybe this is the reason why I haven't been able to commit myself to my talents? It makes sense to me now. Maybe if I were to stay away from things that I hate doing, then I could actually see how far my natural talents could take me.

Does anyone else think this? That in order for us to revel in our talents, we really need to give up the day job that we hate doing. I sense that if I'm always doing things I hate, I'll never be able to give my best in the things I really love.

Sorry for rambling on a bit

[Trezker]

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

I should share some of that music we made for Olympus. I am so proud of it but it's never seen the light of day.

Why don't you? Shouldn't take too much time to throw up a torrent on The Pirate Bay.
I'll listen to it. ^_^

[mercuryrising]

I've always wanted to be a writer. I really never thought I would be anything else.

I still deal with a lot of self-defeating beliefs about writing, most of them instilled by my father who didn't think writing was a real job.

This post reminded me of when I was 16 I had read a poem in front of a couple hundred people that ended up being one of the most electrifying experiences of my life (so far).

I have a chance right now to really do something with my writing. I don't really require to be famous. To make a living would be fine with me. Just to live my passion...

[Footballman]

Hi,

Have you ever fully dedicated yourself to writing?

I have a feeling, that if I ever fully dedicated myself towards pursuits I enjoy - such as soccer, I think I would make rapidly quick improvements. I think Erin and Steve have written about this. I sense that if we were to immerse ourselves in our passions then our proficiency in those passions would rapidly increase.

A woman on the street I met the other week had given up her day job of 30 years as an estate agent to become a political activist. She told me she gave up the steady job because she wanted to follow her heart's desire. She then enthusiastically said to me, "do what you enjoy because then you will be the best at it".

footballman

[sanjay71]

hello to all,

this is i think my first post in erin forum.

i am agree with this article. but i have some questions. how can one know his talents. can there is any book, website or anything which tell me what i am passionate about and what i am good at it both the things.

if any one has experience of this kind please let me know and let know the others who required it.

thanks,

sanjay sharma, india

[Ace22]

The writer Matthew Kelly wrote in his book "The Rhythm of Life" that we have 3 personal cirlces:

1. A circle that contains all of our passions

2. A circle that contains all of our Talents

3. A Circle that contains our ability to generate income


His point was that we need to find the point of intersect of all 3 circles.

For most of us, circle 2 leads to circle 1 the better you get. Circle 3 seems to be the elusive intersect for me. Sure I can make money playing shows and selling albums, but not at the level of the international stars.

I'm hoping that a Psychic reading will help me decide if I need to persevere or reinvent myself. I remember the day I realized that I wasn't going to play Shortstop for the Oakland Atheletics. I was about 16. I cried my eyes out. But I was able to focus all of my attention on music.

One thing lead to another and before I knew it, I was in Hollywood studios. I was drinking beer with Neil Young. I was getting advice from Dick Dale. I let Kenny Loggins talk me into getting married.

I thought for sure I was in like flynn. (did I say that right?)

Anyway, we seem to have run into a long stretch of nothing so I'm going to try and get some cosmic answers. Nes' Ce Pas ?

[Rose of Cairo]

Originally Posted by mercuryrising

I've always wanted to be a writer. I really never thought I would be anything else.

I still deal with a lot of self-defeating beliefs about writing, most of them instilled by my father who didn't think writing was a real job.

Hey, you. Do you already know The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron? This book can help you A LOT. Consider this to be a hint from the Universe.

@Erin: Thank you, cool post.

I used to hate the word "talent". Every time I start something new, I get to hear "Oh my God you are so talented! Just keep going and you'll become great at it!". And this used to be so damn frustrating because even though I enjoyed them, none of those things I tried was standing out in a special way for me, and all the talent in the world could not compensate for the lack of this feeling of fulfillment that you have when you know deep down that you are on the right track.

Now I'm doing something that I know deep down to be the right thing (developing my psychic abilities) and the odd thing is that I've never had any particular talent in this area.

[Hyperchiller]

Originally Posted by ArthurHung

It's funny though, some things that one may think they aren't mean to do could do wonders for them. I am naturally good and enjoy dancing, but recently I've been doing a lot of rockclimbing. Rockclimbing helps ones forearms tremendously, and I could see that continuing to do this, which brings new relationships (tons of lightworkers do rockclimbing), will also help me pull off some breakdancing moves that I'm not currently strong enough to do (which will further help me develop deeper relationships with dancers that I know).

I'm also a natural dancer. I really suck at dance classes though. I hate following other people's moves. You have to keep repeating what they're doing to try and remember the moves. I guess it's a good thing if you want to learn and remember isolated movements and how it can flow with other moves. I usually just go with the flow of the music.

Rockclimbing sounds like a good idea. Down the road I'll be breakdancing too. I've got a DVD on it but yeah arm strength is required. Back strength is a biggie too as opposed to abdominal strength. My friend who does breakdance does a lot of body weight pushups - especially hand stand pushups.

[mercuryrising]

Um, where did my post go?

Well, anyway, thanks Rose and others for the info.

[Ace22]

Originally Posted by mercuryrising

Um, where did my post go?

It was sucked into a parrallel membrane.

[mercuryrising]

Originally Posted by Ace22

It was sucked into a parrallel membrane.

That's where all my good ideas end up, methinks.

[sanjay71]

thanks Ace22 for giving the information about the book. i have not aware about this book.

sanjay sharma, india