Being Bold Beats Talent
September 10, 2008
“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” Goethe
Are you being bold enough? Does breaking the rules to get yourself noticed terrify the life out of you? Or would you do anything to sell yourself?
No matter what you’re selling – a product, a service, or brand YOU, you’ve got to sell yourself first. And to do that, you need to market yourself well. Being bold and different to everyone else is the only way to get yourself noticed. If you don’t do that, you’ll just become another “me too”. And “me too’s” don’t give anyone good enough reason to buy into them.
It’s like being one of those everyday products you see in the plain white packaging in supermarkets. They’re cheap, because they’re commodities. And the only reason anyone buys them is because of the low price. And you don’t want anyone to see you, or your product or service as a commodity, do you?
So What About Talent?
So, where does talent come into it? Is that not more important than being bold? I don’t think it is. If I had to put my money on either a) a bold person, who is good at what they do, or b) an amazingly talented person who isn’t willing to be bold; the bold one would get the cash every single time.
When Madonna became famous in the eighties, I’m betting there was plenty of women out there who could sing far better. But I’m also guessing there were few, if any who were as bold.
So What If You Don’t Do Bold?
Some acts of boldness come easier to some people than others. And that doesn’t matter. Choose something you feel comfortable doing – but not too comfortable. Any act of boldness is going to leave you feeling slightly uneasy – it wouldn’t be called boldness if it didn’t. But we do need to find our own way of being bold and getting ourselves noticed, even if that means breaking a few rules.
What If You Don’t Like Breaking Rules?
Some people feel uncomfortable about breaking the rules. And I’m not suggesting you go out and break the law – a lot of those legal rules are there to protect us and create order in our world. But what about the other rules? If we all follow the same ones – the outcome is the same for us all. They stop us from being unique.
If you’re uncomfortable with the idea of breaking rules, just make a few of your own up and only break the ones that conflict with them.
And If You Still Don’t Like The Idea Of Being Bold
Don’t worry, there’s always someone else eager to take your place. Just try not to wallow too much in self pity when they get what you wanted.
Are you willing to be bold to get what you want? If not – what’s stopping you?
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Comments
24 Responses to “Being Bold Beats Talent”
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Successful And Outstanding Blogger
That quotation by Goethe is one of my favorite.
So how did you figure out I’m kinda shy?
Akemi “spiritual entrepreneur” @ Yes to Me’s last blog post..FunAdvice on Entrepreneurship: Jeremy Goodrich
For me, it’s the fear of failing or being embarrassed. I totally agree with the . . . you don’t know if you don’t try . . . statement and try to instill that in my daughters. I guess I should practice what I preach, huh?
kailani’s last blog post..WW: My Little Baker
Well, I have to admit, I don’t like being bold, but when I am, good things happen.
Brad Shorr’s last blog post..Serious Blog Design Flaws
Hi Akemi – Even though you’re shy, you’re still bold. You were bold when you first moved all the way to America on your own. And you were bold approaching folk like Problogger to interview.
And you were bold in setting up your Akashic reading business, when most of us didn’t even know what it was. So being shy doesn’t matter it’s doing what you do that does.
Hi Rita – you give me too much credit – I’m not good at everything and remember I did liquidate a business which I shouldn’t have started this year.
What you did to get your book published was really bold. But like you say, you still have insecurities like anyone else. I think some people who are not so bold don’t realise that and they assume folk like you are bullet-proof or something.
Hi Kailini – I love your avatar. I know where you’re coming from. I’ve felt like that lots of times. I think you’ve just got to ask yourself – what’s the worse thing that could happen. And also, think back to situations which seemed really bad at the time, but they’re really nothing now. That helps a bit.
Hi Brad – See, so you’re living proof that it works. Next time you’re not looking forward to being bold, you should write down how you felt after you’ve done it. Then look at what you wrote next time you need to – it works.
Rita – making mistakes isn’t failing. You don’t fail until you stop trying. And don’t forget – we’re not allowed to say the fucking “F” word on this blog.
I am living proof that being introverted /shy doesn’t mean you can’t be bold or not speak with confidence when you want to meet a goal. My daughter- who is a supreme extrovert- has said that when I get around people it is like mosquitos sucking away all of my energy bit by bit. After awhile I have to go recharge. But…no one EVER knows because I put on my dancing shoes and go do what it takes to get the job done. Including public speaking on a stage, Directing, presentations,training classes and sales.All highly extroverted stuff!
Wendi Kelly-Life’s Little Inspirations’s last blog post..The Power of Your Secret Weapon
Cath: This is so true. And it reminds me of a saying in Spanish that roughly translated goes like this: “The world belongs to those who are audacious.”
Marelisa’s last blog post..How to Make Decisions
“And If You Still Don’t Like The Idea Of Being Bold
Don’t worry, there’s always someone else eager to take your place. Just try not to wallow too much in self pity when they get what you wanted.”
I loved that.
I am mostly mellow, but I can be bold when I want something. I agree that talent is not enough, because no one will notice that talent unless you advertise it.
Vered – MomGrind’s last blog post..Almost-Wordless Wednesday: Correct Your Nose Without Operation!
The thought that I may fall can prevent me sometimes in being bold. Then, I learn the art of perceiving life less seriously. Humor is a good way of redirecting my energy to becoming courageous!
Evelyn Lim’s last blog post..My Abundance Mind Movie
Oh . . . I guess I’m often bold without realizing I am.
Hey, I feel good about myself!
Akemi “spiritual entrepreneur” @ Yes to Me’s last blog post..FunAdvice on Entrepreneurship: Jeremy Goodrich
Bold takes guts.
Bold wins!
Excellent Cath! This is bold, and in our face – on what it takes.
Lance’s last blog post..What We Learn From Winning
Hi Cath – I think this whole post is very, very true.
The Madonna situation is a great example – and it’s something Frank and I see all the time – talented people not getting very far while less talented ones are out there doing it (it’s great when the boldness and talent do come together).
Robin’s last blog post..Feelings Are There To Be Felt
Hi Catherine,
What an interesting post. I’ve never thought of myself as bold, but I have thought of myself as brave, which isn’t the same, but is a step outside of my comfort zone.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..You Have The Whole World In Your Hands
Hi Wendi that is a great example – you are shy but you can do public speaking. I hope other shy people are reading this.
Hi Mare – that is a brilliant saying. I will remember it for the quote section.
Hi Vered – thank you. i already guessed that you definitely had it in you to be bold.
Hi Rita – It is a lot like what Hilary said isn’t it. But I’m betting she didn’t swear in her speech.
Hi Evelyn – that is a good point – humour definitely helps. And if you can learn to laug at yourself it doesn’t matter so much if things go wrong.
Hi Akemi – that’s a good thing – you certainly are bold.
Hi Lance – thank you. Bold definitely has more to do with courage than personality doesn’t it?
Hi Robin – anyone who is amazingly talented & bold is set for life aren’t they?
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..Being Bold Beats Talent
Hi Barbara – I think brave is what makes folk bold – so you’re probably bolder than you think.
I loved this post, Cath. I’ve been thinking about Madonna and Michael Jackson bit lately because they both turned 50 and I was a huge fan of both of them as a teenager.
But look at the differences 20+ years on. Madonna is still hugely successful and an absolute icon, while Michael Jackson is more known for paedophile claims and for being a walking freak show. But who was the most talented? No question, Michael Jackson was truly gifted.
I have to agree with Rita that being bold in some areas doesn’t mean we are not insecure in others. I am generally a confident woman who does her own thing and is happy to take risks, but when it comes to my writing and my ability to succeed at something so important to me, then I am just as neurotic and scared as anyone else.
In some people, the human brain has a unique way of dealing with this fear of failure and lack of confidence. It manifests itself as confusion. “I’m not scared to try, I just don’t know what I want to do with my life. Maybe I’m not a writer. Maybe I am a teacher. Maybe I am a photographer. Maybe…”
Bullshit! It’s fear. Plain and simple. Theoretically, I know this but still I struggle.
(sigh)
I am so bored with my issues.
Kelly
Kelly@SHE-POWER’s last blog post..A Free Writing Exercise Unleashes Lovely Loralee
You are so right. It’s so easy to just fade into the background and not make a ‘noise’ and then you find those who are more vocal and bold seem to get ahead of the game.
I feel suitably galvanised to shout out a bit more now Cath!
Hi Kelly – I didn’t realise Michael Jackson as the same age as Madonna. It’s sad that someone so amazingly talented has become known for the wrong things.
I like the way you explain your brain trying to con you, because of your fear. I bet a lot of us have felt like that.
You shouldn’t be bored with your issues Kelly – it’s good that you’re thinking about them, that way you can understand them better and tackle them.
Hi Tara – I’ve seen that happen a lot and the folk that make the noise often don’t have much talent do they? Good for you. Don’t let other people take what you want.
Hey Cath, I am ready to get bold because time is slipping away and I’m not doing work that I love. I’m ready to do something with my writing and I have thought of two bold acts I plan to execute soon.
Natural’s last blog post..If My Life Were A Movie
Hi Valerie – that is brilliant. I’m glad you’ve made that decision because you’re a talented writer. I’m looking forward to witnessing your bold acts.
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