Beyond Passion, Talent Wins

Question: “Sir, could you tell me what to do to become financially independent and stable?”

My Response: A tough one because financial stability is relative, and it is a moving target. But I can share some personal perspectives. I’ve learnt that following my talent (here, inborn natural ability), and not necessarily my passion, helps me make more money. Passion does not generate financial outcomes automatically. What makes money for you  is your talent or skill you have mastered. But if your passion falls within your talent or skill acquired, that is a huge blessing.

But note this, it has to be in this order: discover the talent or what you are good at, and develop and nurture it, over time, that thing will become your passion, because you have a deep mastery in it. In other words, your talent which is unlocked will boost your personal confidence, deepening mastery and success, and over time, it will converge as a passion. But if you begin with passion, without the necessary talent, you could be frustrated, financially.

It is very possible that people will tell you to follow your passion, and over time, you would use it to unlock financial freedom. From my experience, that could be dangerous if not well managed. My passion is football, but I have no talent in football. How can something I am passionate about but cannot do it well make money for me?

In summary, check what you can do really well, focus on how you can develop yourself best in it, and that possibly will cushion more financial stability because you will be successful in it, and people will pay you. But following a talent-less passion will lead to frustrations. Of course, you could be among the blessed: your talent falls into your passion where you have inborn natural ability in something you are passionate about. Good luck.

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