Ask HN: How did you discover your talent? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: How did you discover your talent?

7 pointsemilepetrone6 comments

I like many things just enough to keep me interested until the next cool thing comes along. This trait hinders my ability to focus on one area long enough for it to develop into a 'talent.'

This could be a problem of discipline, but I think I haven't found my niche.

How did you discover your talent?

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Try lots of things.

Then stop thinking about the meta-level if "I like this, I like that, am I more talented at this, am I more talented at that" etc. etc. and you just force yourself to work on something.

Meanwhile, try lots of things, but spend most of your time polishing the fundamental skills you chose.

You have just one mind. The outside world only sees the output of your mind. It doesn't care that you really wanted to be good at maths or music or baseball or whatever but that your base urges and attention span made you switch around and robbed you of your time... all it cares about is the net result.

Therefore, it's up to you to conquer your fickleness.

GOOD LUCK :]

Brilliant- thanks! "You have just one mind. The outside world only sees the output of your mind. It doesn't care that you really wanted to be good at maths or music or baseball or whatever but that your base urges and attention span made you switch around and robbed you of your time... all it cares about is the net result."

Jot down the various things which keep your mind distracted and follow your original goal at the same time. Eg. if you want to learn Scala language and also wants to be updated about new technologies/frameworks/languages/news devote 2-3 hrs daily on updation, while 1-2 hours on your sharpening your primary skills. Once you are down a month you can easily visualize your current position and keep on refactoring that day by day.

My 'talent' has become somewhat of a nuisance as I'm constantly referred to as 'the writer' at work/by friends/family when I can do so much more than just that. While I appreciate the significance of sound prose and clear writing I do not like being boxed into this very small role especially at work when there are more interesting things one could be doing.

have a repository of your ideas, and what you completed of it, before you wonder to something else. Even a notebook and a pencil can be useful for this. cut back on sugar. :-)

I didn't discover a talent. I created it.

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