Talent requires more than wishful thinking

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November 17, 2008

BY ROBIN L. QUILLON The Tribune-Democrat Mon Nov 17, 2008, 11:12 AM EST

We live in a world filled with talented people. And their talents inspire us with a desire or a “wish” to emulate them.

There is an old saying, “Wish in one hand and pour sand in the other, and see which one gets filled first.”

My dad is an accomplished carpenter. In Dad’s calloused hands, wood is transformed into a thing of beauty. To him, a stack of lumber is merely a masterpiece unorganized.

Growing up, I logged many hours as his carpenter’s assistant, steadying boards and fetching this or that. I learned that the No. 1 rule in the life of a fine carpenter is measure twice and cut once.

Before every project, Dad would meticulously design on paper what he intended to build. In his mind’s eye the project was already complete. His plans where distilled down to the finest detail, because a mistake using teakwood or other exotic wood is costly.

I was always amazed how he could take measurements in a home for cabinets and then build them miles away, return and fit them exactly in place.

He never doubted his measurements or skill. He made it look so easy.

I also learned by watching him over the years that patience is an important factor in becoming a fine carpenter.

I truly envy his talents. But I knew that I was not willing to pay the price it would take to become a fine carpenter like Dad.

The truth is, I lacked vision. To me, a stack of lumber was just that. I don’t recall uttering the words: “I’d love to learn to be a fine carpenter.”

I was visiting a friend the other day who is an accomplished piano player, and as he played, I said to him, “I would love to learn how to play the piano.”

He replied, “Well, why don’t you then?”

As he played, he effortlessly tickled the ivories and made beautiful music.

Inspired by his talent, I thought, “Yes, maybe I could learn to play.”

But no sooner had I thought this than all the reasons for “why not?” flooded my mind. Once again, my dream of learning to play was dashed by my own negative thoughts.

I questioned whether I was willing to pay the price. I am still not sure.

I think Sir Isaac Newton was really describing the thought process of goal achievement when he said, “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

It seems we dream and the reaction to that dream often is the dream of failure, disappointment and excuses that cause us to shrink from the challenge.

Why is it that some people can dream, accentuate the positive and do, ignoring the possibilities of failure; while others are consigned to the exact opposite, by accentuating the negative and never do?

I truly believe our hearts tug us in the direction we should go.

Learning to play the piano has been tugging at me for a long time. It’s my own fault that I have not done something about it.

But it’s not too late and I hope to change that soon.

This Theodore Roosevelt quote cuts me to the quick: “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, for they live in the great twilight that knows no victory or defeat.”

Ouch!

Robin L. Quillon is the publisher of The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at rquillon@tribdem.com.

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