While photographing my neighbor’s flowers yesterday, I was struck with the notion that one of our missions while we’re here is to stand out.

You weren’t given all the skills you have so that you could blend in. Your mission is to use those skills to stand out.

Just so we’re clear, standing out is not dying your hair purple, getting a tattoo, buying the most expensive car or watch so you can appear different or get noticed. That’s just an indicator that you have a poor self-image.

Standing out is growing what was given to you.

The parable of the talents is one of my favorite bible stories. The abbreviated version has a rich man putting his servants in charge of his resources while he is away. He gives one servant 5 talents, another 2, and the third one, 1. The servant given 5 invests them and turns them into 10. The servant given 2 talents also doubles his seed and turns it into 4. The third servant hid his talent in a hole in the ground.

When the rich man returns, he rewards servants one and two for investing wisely and takes back the 1 talent from the third servant who hid it in the ground and gives it to the servant who made him the most return on his investment. The lesson as scribed by Matthew in 25:13-30 is this:

“For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

You’ll grind your teeth if you hide your talents.

What are you hiding from the world?

What is your gift?

What are you sitting on that can enrich you and others?

There is nothing braggadocios about letting what’s inside out. That’s your contribution. Your genie wants to be freed so that it can stand out.

Again, standing out is not about being noticed, although you will be when you free your gifts. Standing out is more about making a natural contribution by using what you got.

As the parable notes, some are given more than others. That in no way relinquishes those who get less from the responsibility of standing out.

Standing out is always a two-way street. By unleashing your talents, you benefit yourself as well as others. When you keep them hidden, everyone goes into a recession. As the old saying goes, “A rising tide lifts all boats.”

“But I don’t have any gifts” is a statement that reports more on your self-image than it does on your reservoir of gifts. Everyone is good at something. We just may not put a high value on that something. Ask yourself, “What do I do better than most?” It’s not an ego aggrandizing question; it’s an assessment.

The next question is: “How can I use that talent to better serve myself and others?”

There is an answer. You just need to ask the questions and pay attention to what comes back.

If you’re not already standing out, there’s still time but the clock is ticking. The longer you wait determines whether you’ll fish or cut bait.

The time to begin is always NOW.

What are you hiding from the world? It needs to stand out.

All the best,

John

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