Overcoming hurdles

Some things in our lives can’t be changed and, sometimes, not even chosen: family, neighbors, friends, school teachers, experiences in general. And all these elements make up our life stories and define who we are.

It sounds poetic and even a bit cliché, but in fact all of those experiences make our talent unique.

Most people don’t know themselves enough to the point of not making use or even exploring their talents (or potentials). Many professionals condemn their past or even their life stories for considering them unworthy of a promising future. Some of the reasons include the fact that they didn’t go to an Ivy League school or even that they don’t speak English fluently. That’s precisely where the danger lies.

Simply “conforming” to the “established” professional model will not make you different. There are obviously prerequisites that need to be fulfilled, but I’m talking about differentiation.

And difference can only be perceived when it comes from our essence. Have you watched the animated flick Rio?

Rio – directed by the Brazilian Carlos Saldanha – is already a box office hit in 2011 in the US and in Brazil. And why is that?

According to many critics (the animated film was well evaluated by 72% of Rotten Tomatoes’ critics) the flick has something unique that could only have been provided by a Brazilian who actually knows Rio de Janeiro, its culture, specificities and the carioca spirit extremely well portrayed in the cartoon. Of course the latest 3D technology adds to the show, which has been a huge hit among audiences around the world.

You want to know why Saldanha was so successful in this flick? Because he didn’t, in any moment, choose to “hide” the fact that he’s Brazilian. He understands our “way of doing things” and knows the beauty of his home town Rio like nobody else. Saldanha moved to New York because he wanted to work with the best in computer graphics. With a good educational background but difficult career start, he boosted his career and has shown an enormous amount of talent (which can be seen in many other successful animated films).

But his real triumph came when he made use of his difference to create something unique which translates universally: overcoming hurdles.

A Brazilian director who overcame hurdles in New York, and a blue macaw who overcame the shortcomings of not knowing how to fly.

What about you? What is your unique talent that has been framed by your experiences? What are you waiting for to overcome your hurdles?