Cultivating Your Talent

Last summer I discovered Creative Mornings Atlanta. Basically, every last Friday of the month they host a different speaker in the creative industry. From marketing/advertising to design or engineering. Being “a creative” isn’t specific to one set profession. Creative Mornings Atlanta doesn’t limit it. I have to admit, I used to read all of the time. I mean new books were my thing. Between working, networking, living and “socializing”. Some of my reading time has gone by the wayside. Book reviews are some of my favorite posts to write and they often get open the door for great discussion online and among family and friends. Here are some past reviews The Help, Platform: Get Noticed In A Noisy World, and the most read and purchased by my readers Enemies of the Heart.

So, back to Creative Mornings Atlanta…during this particular morning, the speaker Dwain Cox from Chick-fil-A mentioned the book Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life by Steve Martin. Of course, I know who Steve Martin is. I’ve seen Father of the Bride all too many times (thanks to TBS and I love it) and Bowfinger (strange but funny movie) and old SNL clips of him. I purchased the Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life Kindle edition. In the book, he outlines the tough ride to become a comedian. His pre-success days are the most interesting. He was told he would never cut it in stand-up and that he should stick to writing. His dad even encouraged him to go to college as a back up plan after he won an Emmy Award. The first line of the book says:

“I did stand-up comedy for eighteen years. Ten of those years were spent learning, four years were spent refining, and four were spent in wild success.” – Steve Martin

While reading, I couldn’t help but relate his struggles with my own career. I’m still in the “learning” years. That’s the fun part right? Doesn’t always feel that way, but it’s the truth. All of my millennial peers are navigating the same road together. This book helps put things into perspective. Prior to reading, I only knew Steve Martin as a successful and talented Hollywood legend. Obviously, he wasn’t always that person. It took time to cultivate that talent.

Are you cultivating your talent?