Careers.Org editors have compiled the most comprehensive directory of job search resources, including government, nonprofit, freelance, seasonal employment listings, and more. Careers.Org has been human edited since it's inception in 1995. Use the Search box below to search our vast archive, or browse. If we can serve you better, please give us feedback.

Find Current Jobs / Careers by Job Keyword and Zip Code Find What Job? Find Job Where? Posted When? Within Last Day Within Last Three Days Within Last Week Within Last Month Anytime Search All Fields Search Title Within 5 miles Within 10 miles Within 25 miles Within 50 miles Within 100 miles Advanced Search Post New Job

The Relationship Between Motivation and Talent

By Henry Neils

Hydrogen and oxygen are distinctly different elements, but sometimes they combine to form water. Something similar is true for motivation and talent.

Motivation is the desire to do something. Talent is what you do well naturally. They can exist independently, but when they combine, they create something special. They create motivated talents.

People often are naturally good at something (talented), but it just doesn’t turn them on. For example, Heather is good with numbers, but she doesn’t go out of her way to find tasks calling for that talent. Most people have such talents. But then there are those talents that we really enjoy using. These are the motivated talents, and this is where the magic is.

We use motivated talents every chance we get. Most of the time we don’t even think about it. For example, Larry has a motivated talent for conversation, and he naturally engages both friends and strangers in dialog. He doesn’t consciously determine to do so; it just happens. It’s natural and unforced. He enjoys it, and he’s good at it. That’s the hallmark of a motivated talent.

Motivated talents tend to be irrepressible. They find expression. In fact, if you’ve ever tried to stifle a motivated talent (either yours or someone else’s) it probably felt like you were trying to hold two dozen ping pong balls under water at the same time. Motivated talents pop out, even if no one else is asking for them. And doesn’t that make sense? After all, it’s what we do well AND enjoy.

Well then, wouldn’t the ideal job be one where you can use your motivated talents daily and get paid for it? Absolutely! But more on that later.

What are your motivated talents? Shouldn’t your boss know? You can let him/her know by giving them a copy of you own career assessment.

Get a job you love and never work a day in your life.

Henry Neils is President and Founder of Assessment.com, the leading online career assessment company focused on helping employees and employers work together for their mutual benefit. Millions of people have gained personal insight into their careers by using the tools, such as MAPP™ (Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential), provided at Assessment.com.