Aptitudes
One of the best things I ever learned in my life was the difference between aptitudes and preferences.
An aptitude has to do with how our brains are wired, giving us ability for some things and not others. For instance, I’ve never had a single music lesson in my life, but it turns out I have perfect pitch.
Strange but true.
Preferences are what we’d expect; the things we learn to prefer through life based on experience or circumstances. I’ve learned through my life that putting puzzles together - either for fun or work, like a jigsaw puzzle or the ability to design the architecture of a building - is something I wish I could do well.
The problem is, I have no aptitude for either. One way to flag these things is if they simple feel hard to do. If so, you probably don’t have the aptitude for it. If you had the aptitude, it would be very, very easy.
Once I learned these things, it helped me discover my aptitude for speaking, because I was told I’m wired to “rapidly produce new ideas” in my brain. That means I can keep talking, without hesitating, and it will be easy to do so. Huh - what do you know about that!
These things aren’t virtues, they just…are.
Knowing about these easy strengths is great information. Since I learned this nugget, I realized how easy and natural it is for me to speak in front of audiences. I first did a radio talk show on a small station. Easy! Then once I developed Verbal Branding, I realized the best way for me to market was to speak as often as possible.
The reason is simple: speaking in front of an audience is an easy, natural thing for me to do. I have the aptitude for it.
What are you hard wired to be or do? Do you know? Check out this organization - Johnson O’Connor Research Foundation - and you might find a different way to think about your strengths and weaknesses.
The point is, if you’re doing a job that is against your aptitudes, you might never reach your full potential.
That’s something to know about, wouldn’t you agree?