Dale Carnegie had held many jobs, but never excelled at any of them. When he worked selling cars at an automobile company, his passion still wasn't ignited. During sales pitches, he would simply recite, like reading from a script, the car's features, price, and advantages. One day, an elderly man came to look at a car. Carnegie once again mechanically repeated his usual "sales script." After listening, the old man said, "Young man, how can you possibly attract customers this way?"
The old man's words shocked Carnegie. They began to talk, and Carnegie confided, "I have my own dream too. I want to become a writer because I have talent in this area, but I just can't bring myself to make a decision."
The old man replied, "Then why don't you do it? Writing can make money too." He immediately named several successful authors and mentioned a few books that had sold over one million copies.
"But sir," Carnegie explained, "I'm afraid to give up my job. Even though I'm not doing well, this job provides me with stable income and a steady life."
"Why should you let your talent settle for an ordinary life?" the old man asked. "You should pursue a career that allows your talent to flourish. Yes, there's risk involved, but if you truly possess such ability, why worry about failure? At the very least, you should give it a try. Otherwise, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
These words suddenly enlightened Carnegie. Indeed, although quitting his job to start a new venture carried risks, if he truly had talent in a certain area, he would surely be more successful than in jobs he didn't enjoy. Besides, writing could indeed bring substantial income. Later, Carnegie taught with unique insights and an open teaching style, revolutionizing adult education. More and more people began attending his classes and buying his books, and his talents were finally fully realized.
Many of us often lament that our talents have gone undeveloped, leading to unremarkable lives. The truth is, this is precisely because we lack the courage and boldness that Carnegie eventually found. We always prefer a simple, risk-free life, but this very mindset is often the sharp blade that kills our potential. Starting your own venture certainly involves risk, but perhaps the greatest risk of all is letting your talent settle for an ordinary life. After all, if a job that doesn't utilize your talents can still sustain you, just imagine how much better you could do in work where your talents are fully unleashed, wouldn't you?