About this quote

Talent shows up in many people. The hard part is going where that talent forces you to go — the lonely, awkward practice and the choices that look risky to others. Ask yourself if you will keep working when the work is ugly or when people don't get it. Pick one small, uncomfortable step this week and actually do it.

When to use it

• During my exit meeting at the agency I told my manager, 'I have to try my own projects — everyone has talent and I want to see where mine leads.'
• Before I submitted a risky thesis topic to my advisor I said, 'This scares me, but everyone has talent; I need to follow mine into the hard parts.'
• After the coach asked me to add a dangerous move to my routine, I whispered to myself, 'Everyone has talent — time to be brave and practice it.'
• The night I chose to record an experimental album instead of taking the steady teaching job, I told my partner, 'I know it's uncertain, but I have to find out what my talent becomes.'