Career Change SOS - I Don't Have Any Talent, Strengths or Passion and I don't Know What To Do

Recently I received an email from a site user who was having trouble identifying his strengths, talents, and passions. He had even asked his loved ones what they thought his strengths could be, and was coming up with nothing! 

Many people find it hard to see what their gifts are, often because they come so naturally to us that we (and the people close to us) overlook them.

If you have unsuccessfully tried to uncover your strengths, achievements and passions I have a few ideas you can try.

Define Your Own Definition of Achievement, Strength and Talent

When you think of 'talents', 'achievements', 'core-strengths' do you only think about them regarding work? And do you think that you have to be 'the best' or exceptionally brilliant to list something as a talent? Sometimes we get tripped up thinking that to have a talent or core strength we have to be super amazing at something - an activity, a knowledge area, or a work-related skill such as marketing.

I'd suggest blocking the 'outer world''s ideas of talent/achievements to one side for a moment, and think back across your life to what you personally see as your achievements and strengths. I'll share some of mine to give you an idea of what I mean:

• Achievement: When I learnt to surf a few years ago. I was the last one in the group to be able to stand on a board. I didn't think i'd ever be able to do it. It took me two days (most people got it after 2 hours). But I never gave up, no matter how much my body ached or how clumsily I fell off the board, and finally did it. Overcoming something that's a real challenge for me is my definition of an achievement.
• Talent: Sharing my stories/experience. I relate to people and try to help them by sharing my experiences (often through writing).
• Core strength: Creatively bringing elements together and synthesizing them to make a whole (eg making collages, baking, freestyle dancing).

Now it's your turn.

What do you look back on that makes you personally feel really proud of yourself (rather than your boss, parents or friends giving you praise for something)? What do you know you can always do, something about you that you can rely on? What can you do with ease that others would find difficult or scary?

Do You Have Invisible Superpowers?

Sometimes our strengths are 'invisible', so instead of having a talent for 'computers' or 'horseriding', it could be 'empathising with others', 'helping others to help themselves', 'creating a solid, trustworthy dependable presence in stressful situations' or even 'cutting through confusion and clarifying an issue'.

It takes a bit of digging to uncover these kind of talents, but they are just as valid as the more obvious 'accounting/football/painting' talents. These 'invisible' talents can really help give you ideas about things you could do, and the value you can bring to other people and situations. These skills are also often innate and relate to your personality, rather than teachable skills.

Looking Forward To Something Means It Makes You Happy

If you just don't know what makes you happy there is some good news. You get to experiment and find out. Put thoughts of 'career/work/job' to one side, and make a list of all the things you've wanted to try or things you once did before that were fun and you'd like to do again. They can be as random as you want - kite flying, stand up comedy lesson, writing a cook book, driving a racecar - anything!! As long as it excites you. Allow yourself to do some of these things, and book them into your diary (a drop-in workshop or class rather than signing up for a year-long course!).

When you start to do things that genuinely bring you joy, that you look forward to doing, you will start to reconnect with 'yourself' and remember what makes you happy. It might not necessarily be racing cars, but it could be the feeling of adrenalin. It might not specifically be flying a kite, it could be being out in the open amongst nature. Doing fun things helps give you clues to the stuff that really makes you happy. Then you can take these elements (such as being outdoors, or adrenalin as in the examples) and aim to include them in your new career.