Will Smith said it well:
“The only thing that I see that is distinctly different about me is I’m not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be out-worked, period. You might have more talent than me, you might be smarter than me, you might be sexier than me, you might be all of those things you got it on me in nine categories. But if we get on the treadmill together, there’s two things: You’re getting off first, or I’m going to die. It’s really that simple, right? You’re not going to out-work me. It’s such a simple, basic concept. The guy who is willing to hustle the most is going to be the guy that just gets that loose ball. The majority of people who aren’t getting the places they want or aren’t achieving the things that they want in this business is strictly based on hustle. It’s strictly based on being out-worked; it’s strictly based on missing crucial opportunities. I say all the time if you stay ready, you ain’t gotta get ready.”
Natural talent vs experience.
Working with employers in the dental industry over the years, I’ve noticed that natural talent is what most employers look for in a new hire. Natural raw talent is not learnt or acquired. It comes instinctively, and it allows new tasks to be mastered quickly without much failure. Natural raw talent is preferred over experience. We see it over and over. Two candidates present for the same job. One has many years of experience, and the other, much less. Employers are willing to train someone with less experience, grooming a new hire up to speed when they present with natural skills. These candidates have a ‘knack’ for their craft, as my grandmother would say.
Having a knack for dentistry means the work comes easily. Your draw from an innate ability deep within. You never give up. You give it your all. When you work, you work with a passion in your gut, with a can-do attitude and a twinkle in your eye.
If you don’t have years of dental experience or years of education, you are not necessarily going to be at a disadvantage when you have natural skills for the job. Have confidence, and apply for the job.
If you are a career dental professional with years of experience, and finding your job search to be challenging, take some time off. Get away to a quiet place and examine your raw, natural talents. Over time, we find that these career dental professionals with strong work ethics get burned out and eventually lose touch with the fire they had when they began their career. The knack embers are barely glowing, and the fire is about out. They are tired and numb to their work and go through the motions day in and day out, working in a rut. This type of mindset is not desirable to employers. You may be a hard worker, have a strong work ethic, get the job done, and dot the i’s and cross the t’s, but your natural skills are lost. Deep down, you start to question yourself, wondering why you bounce from interview after interview and working interview after working interview with no offers. After all, you present with years of experience, you are the expert and have a strong work ethic, and you should outshine over someone with less experience.
If you are reading this and you are the experienced dental professional who’s burnt out lost your fire and can’t seem to get that job offer after several interviews, here’s a tip: Write down your dreams. Why do you do what you do? Get back in touch with your past. Think about why you chose a career in dentistry and how you began. Then, redraft your letter of introduction and resume. Focus on your raw talents–the gift that you can bring to the job, and share from a different place. Be professional and genuine. Be you. Admit that your work comes easy to you and explain why you do what you do. This will attract employers. Sometimes we need to be shaken up and have an outside eye to help us get back in touch.
Will Smith’s statement resonates with me when I think about a natural talent I recently discovered. I didn’t start running until I was in my 50s, and I came upon this natural talent by accident when I wanted to lose weight and become healthy. The experienced runners I ran with told me I had a knack for it. I can’t tell you how many times I now go out for a run and just go. I push and I push, and when the fire ignites, I race to the finish with that fire in my belly. I’m willing to feel the pain and I would die doing it because the desire within me is so strong. My experience and knowledge is lacking, but my desire and knack for running is simply within me. This same passion and raw talent as an entrepreneur fills me up. I love what I do, and I do what I love.
There has been a lot written about talent vs experience. After years of working in the dental industry, I’ve realized that in the hiring game of natural talent vs experience, natural talent is what wins over employers when it comes to job candidates. However, though it’s difficult to find, we are always looking for the job seeker with a both a knack for the job and the experience under their belt – now there’s the diamond in the rough!
Photo Credit and Copyright -Mkaliva / Deposit Photos
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