Photo and blog by Sharman Dow
You have a God-given talent, but unless you are using it with a determined effort it could eventually be lost forever. “God-given” is just that — a supernatural gift you were born with and given by our Creator. It’s that special talent only you possess, because of your DNA and the exclusive qualities you were fashioned for at this specific time in your life. So what is a God-given talent, and how do you determine it is your special treasure to use?
First, realize there is only one you, and God made you for a purpose. You have a natural endowment that God has given you. It’s the possession of an ability and talent to create a richness in your life. When you use your gifts and gifting you will find a fullness that cannot be explained. Your cup will overflow with contentment, because you are doing what you were made for. So why not use your unique gifting in your career?
I wish someone had taken ahold of me at a younger age and said, “Oh my gosh! You should be in sales!” When I look back at my childhood, it was so clear and yet I did not realize it until I was 30 years old. I fell into the career of selling, purely by accident. And yet, selling things was what I had been doing my entire life.
When I was in nursery school I had discovered magnets. I loved playing with them. When I found a magnet could pull out the iron in sand, I came up with a brilliant idea – or at least it was brilliant at the age of four. I had convinced a group of kids to eat sand, because I proved to them with the magnet that iron would make them as strong as Popeye.
I’ll never forget the words and look on our nursery school teacher’s face as she approached us. “What are you kids doing?” she asked in shock, looking at everyone with dirt on their face and around their mouth. Of course, I had none, which made her even more upset. I responded, “They are getting iron to make them strong like Popeye.” My first sales job was quickly extinguished by a reprimand and a quick swat in my rear.
I always had this great desire within to convince people my way was the best. It didn’t bother me to work hard, as I loved making money – even as a child. If I was selling lemonade in front of our house and another kid was doing the same on our street, I would stand up on my table and demand I had the best drink available — putting them to shame and closing down their lemonade business.
As I grew older, I would do anything to make money, and so my entrepreneur spirit kicked into full throttle at the young age of eight. I learned people liked to know what was going on in the neighborhood, so I started my own newspaper with simple things like, “The Jones’ family cat died.” I would copy it several times over and sell it door to door.
My first real job in sales was given to me by my mother, who was the fashion coordinator of Robinson’s Department Store –later to become Macy’s. At 15, I had never sold anything professionally in my life. However, my very first day during the Christmas rush, I outsold everyone in the men’s department at J.W. Robinson’s Department Store — including the manager. As I look back, it was at that point I wish someone had taken me under their wing and told me that my God-given talent was selling.
At 30 I found I needed a job, and the husband of my best friend from high school hired me to sell insurance. Within just a few short years it turned out to be a goldmine for me financially, because I was finally utilizing my God-given talent in my career. Although selling insurance is not an exciting career for most people, I found it to be challenging and fun because I became the trusted advisor to my clients. It was very fulfilling to me, because I was helping employers make their business more profitable with my knowledge, expertise and experience.
Maybe this is a good time for you to reassess yourself and determine what is your God-given talent. Reflect and look back to the things that made you feel fulfilled as a child. Now figure out a way to use your God-given talent to empower yourself and your career!
Sharman Dow is the founder of the Empower Women’s Conference, coming October 22nd to Orange County. Register today!
