An important realization between where you are and where those you admire are
We all have talents that we undervalue.
While I was in college, a lot of my degree curriculum revolved around editing video.
I remember a lot of late nights in the editing lab to meet deadlines. There were some fun projects, and there were some more tedious. I also recall not necessarily falling in love with the art.
But by the time I was done, I had useful knowledge and decent expertise with video editing.
My realization was I made a mistake assuming everyone else had a similar ability.
When I shared with others that I had this skill, they often shared how impressed they were that I could do that.
The more I listened to those instances, I realized that it was possible -- maybe even likely -- that I believed everyone else's abilities were the same as mine. Especially, in the example of video editing. As more people got smartphones with cameras, I felt confident that most understood video editing techniques and "everyone knew how to edit."
I couldn't have been further from the truth.
I imagine this has happened to you, too.
When you envision the possibilities of your thing that you want to see in the world, and then you see people on social media having success in that area, you might feel like they have something you don't have. Perhaps, you believe that need has been completely met and there is no space for someone new.
It's unlikely.
We all have talents that we undervalue.
There is only a small difference between the people at the top of the industry that you want to enter, or the people who post about success with their business or organization, and where you are right now. Especially when you've already had formal training or experience in that area.
The gap is likely not that big.
I remember my first day on an ESPN set.
I've been a play-by-play sports broadcaster for 25 years, but on this day, my role was talent stats and my job was to feed information to the on-air talent. The first game of the tournament ended, and as I looked around the booth, I had the realization that if the play-by-play person didn't return for whatever reason, I could put on their headset and, at worst, deliver an average broadcast. I've even heard network TV talent share the same sentiment: the difference between them and others in the industry isn't that big.
As you think about the person online or in your industry who is doing what you want to do, consider the gap between you and them might not be that large.
And if that is true, what can you do today to become someone another person will look up to someday?
