15 signs you’re extremely talented (even if you don’t feel like you are)

It’s interesting how we’re often the last people who can recognize how talented and capable we actually are. People often doubt how much they can offer the world in terms of their skills and capabilities.

If you think that this is an accurate description of you, you may want to check out this article for 15 signs you’re extremely talented and capable (even if you don’t feel like you are).

1) You love what you do

Those who are successful usually credit their achievements to their inherent passion for the field or industry.

It’s no secret that when you have big dreams, you are going to encounter so many setbacks and challenges in your journey. Talented people are able to use their love for their craft to drive them to push past these difficult experiences.

If you are the type to be very emotional when it comes to your work, you may also like channeling these intense feelings when you are feeling particularly unmotivated.

2) You’re eager to grow in your field

Even if you are regarded as someone who is an expert in your field, a truly talented and motivated person will not stop learning. For these types of people, there is always a next level full of experiences and skills that they have to unlock.

The best way to continue growing is to consistently take feedback and constructive criticism from those you trust. To some extent, you have to develop a thick skin when it comes to receiving comments from others (especially if they’re not the most positive feedback).

You also don’t like staying complacent. Talented people with a lot of potential are mindful of the fact that there is always room for improvement.

You’d also rather not be the smartest person in the room. As much as possible, you want to learn from the examples of people who are more knowledgeable than you.

3) You are resourceful in the face of problems

We all know that the constant presence of unexpected struggles and problems is a fact of life.

With this knowledge, a talented and resourceful person is known for thinking outside of the box to solve complicated dilemmas.

You like keeping an open mind whenever possible. It’s best practice for you to brainstorm with a team and to encourage unique solutions. During these brainstorming sessions, you accept that there are no wrong answers — all proposals are worth to be considered at the very least.

Talented and capable people don’t always seek new solutions. They know the value of maximizing current opportunities and resources.

A capable person is also able to ask the right questions when solving problems. This makes it easier for him/her to get to the root of the issue faster and come up with the right solution.

Lastly, you are proactive in the face of struggles. You don’t like waiting around for someone else to address your problem. Instead, you like taking quick and immediate action to the best of your abilities.

4) You can think for yourself

If you are a talented and capable person, you know how to recognize good advice from bad ones. You don’t just blindly accept what other people believe to be true.

Smart people can think independently. They don’t rely on the approval of others when making important decisions. Only you can know what’s best for your specific situation given your personal experience and circumstances.

When it comes down to it, you’re willing to stand out among the crowd and be different from everyone else.

5) You are versatile

Over the years, you have had the opportunity to learn numerous skills that could be applied in different fields and situations. Talented people naturally seek to connect and merge various disciplines together in the hopes of creating something that has never been seen before.

You describe yourself as someone who is infinitely curious about the world around you. Nurturing this curiosity and investing in your education is something that you consistently do.

This desire for knowledge also moves you to seek mentors from various fields who can pass on their learnings and experiences to you.

Perhaps the people around you may not always understand why you’re constantly on the lookout for new skills to learn. But you know that all your hard work will come to fruition one day.

Eventually, you will reap the rewards of your versatility in knowledge.

6) You are flexible and adaptable

When trials come your way, you are flexible enough to know how to overcome these challenges.

You find that your agility is your strong suit. Talented and capable people are used to quickly pivoting and changing their minds once it is necessary.

You know that your first idea is probably not going to be your ultimate money-maker. For you, it is a given that your first plan will undergo countless iterations and changes before it is finally perfected.

Even though it may be tough, you are able to summon the confidence that you need to push through with a new approach or a new solution.

7) You are often praised for what you do

A lot of people can be very doubtful about their own abilities. But try to be honest with yourself and determine if the people who are close to you think differently.

You’ll know that you are talented and capable if your close friends think that your competence is undeniable. A lot of people can actually tell if others have what it takes to succeed. Take the time to listen to what your peers and your mentors have to say.

It may be that people often look to you for advice and you are a constant source of wisdom and intelligence. Or maybe you are always tapped for huge opportunities because of your well-established reputation.

Although your worth is not determined by the opinions of others, this may still signal whether or not you are objectively proficient in what you do.

8) You are very creative

Although talented people can take inspiration from what others have created, they also have the great ability to inspire originality and innovation. The greatest fear of these people is to be labeled as a copycat or an imitator.

You may like the idea of challenging what is possible. It is not enough for you to be content in traditional ways of thinking — you want to defy expectations and go beyond the norm.

You are a visionary. Truly creative people like flipping their preconceived notions and ideas about people, events, and ideals, among others. They delight in having a vivid imagination that is unlike any other.

There is also a never-ending desire to do things better than the people before you. This pushes people to reach greater heights than the rest.

9) You have a greater purpose

When motivation seems most elusive, you rely on this broader purpose to push you further and allow you to keep moving forward.

You don’t work as hard as you do just for your own personal gain and fulfillment. Talented and capable people are motivated by their longing to make a significant difference in the world. They know that their talents should be used for the greater good and to serve the community in the best way they can.

These kinds of people also have strong moral convictions that they absolutely need to follow. They always strive to do the right thing when it is in the best interest of everyone involved.

Talented people also make it a point to communicate this purpose to the rest of their team so that everyone can work towards the same overarching objective.

With this, there is a deeper sense of camaraderie as the team advances towards their ambitions.

10) You aren’t afraid of starting from the bottom

Talented people that eventually become extremely capable are comfortable with being beginners at first. In fact, you completely embrace this feeling of newness.

Although you may be naturally talented at some things, you don’t let this give you unrealistic expectations of what you should immediately accomplish. You know that even the most talented people started from the bottom.

Like any other person, you may be afraid of being embarrassed as you start new ventures and projects. However, you don’t allow this fear to control your life. You want to be known for continually doing things that are outside of your comfort zone.

11) You accept failure as a necessary part of life

If you’re a talented and capable person, you have a very optimistic and healthy view of failure. You are aware that the most successful people are often the ones with a lot of not-so-perfect experiences.

These kinds of people are characterized by how they continually try new things even if the odds aren’t in their favor. They are not scared of making mistakes and falling short.

You are also able to embody grit and resilience to stay on course and to learn from your errors. This ability to bounce back from mistakes is ultimately what separates the good from the great.

12) You are extremely self-aware

Talented people are also very curious about their inner selves.

While examining themselves, it’s important that they remain in touch with reality. They don’t try to exaggerate or minimize any characteristics they may have.

For instance, you may be very aware of your inborn strengths and talents. This allows you to be confident in your abilities as you go through life.

On the other hand, you don’t beat yourself up when your weaknesses are revealed to you. This healthy mindset allows you to work on improving yourself more.

13) You are always open to new opportunities

Some people may have the inclination to get bored easily whenever they pursue something new.

But talented people can use this trait as an advantage by seeing it as a sign that they should constantly look for new challenges.

Talented people are able to recognize when previous dreams no longer serve them in the way that they should. They can truly turn a bad situation around by being more open-minded when it comes to new opportunities.

14) You are a long-term planner

Instead of focusing on short-sighted goals, talented people like planning way ahead into the future. They like training themselves to anticipate every possible struggle that they may encounter towards their objective.

You are also very goal-oriented and you often think in terms of the results that you want to achieve. It is best practice for you to have a step-by-step action plan that is very specific to your vision and what you stand for.

You are very ambitious and you’d rather dream big more than anything else. But at the same time, you can also be very realistic with your plans. You are aware that you have various limitations that could affect how fast you can attain success.

15) You are able to execute your plans

Plans are futile if you don’t have the ability to follow through. Being a talented person, you are able to execute the strategies that you had in mind during the planning phase.

You are laser-focused when it comes to carrying out your role and responsibilities. This means you ignore distractions and remove any possible disturbances that may cause delays.

Talented people also have the ability to prioritize the most urgent and important tasks. They are able to say no to certain activities that may hinder their productivity and efficiency.

You are also willing to delegate tasks when it’s more appropriate and helpful for the entire team. Overall, you are a master at creating work systems that are both repeatable and effective.

Take it one day at a time

If you identify with most of these traits, we’d like to congratulate you! You are clearly a very talented and gifted person.

But before you go, we’d just like to remind you to take it one day at a time.

When you are known to be particularly talented, you may feel a lot of internal and external pressure to achieve so much in life. This can cause so much overwhelm and stress as you battle daily challenges in pursuit of your goals.

To combat this pressure, just focus on doing your best in every single task you encounter (no matter how small they may be). Shift your perspective to focus on one problem at a time.

Eventually, these small actions will compound to bigger results. And before you know it, you’ll be able to achieve your wildest dreams.

Ultimately, we wish you the best in everything that you pursue. We hope you are able to maximize the talents you have in the best way possible.

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Lachlan Brown

I’m Lachlan Brown, the founder, and editor of Hack Spirit. I love writing practical articles that help others live a mindful and better life. I have a graduate degree in Psychology and I’ve spent the last 15 years reading and studying all I can about human psychology and practical ways to hack our mindsets. Check out my latest book on the Hidden Secrets of Buddhism and How it Saved My Life. If you want to get in touch with me, hit me up on Facebook or Twitter.

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