TED Conversations

Sherrlene Uy

Teacher - English and Research, Glendale School, Inc. (QC, Phil)

This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »

What are the challenges that gifted and creative individuals face at present?

Hi everyone! I am working on a research about the gifted and creative individuals. I'd like to know what are the challenges that the gifted and creative people experience in your country. Share your thoughts please :) Thanks!

+15
Share:

Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.

  • thumb

    James Todd

    • +3
    Mar 3 2013: I am from Canada, identified as 'gifted' in Grade 4, and I have identified with that gift all my life. Although that giftedness showed as a talent for schoolwork, and is usually interpreted as analytical work, I uncovered my own creativity in stages. So first, it must be clear that in a post-industrial, neo-information economy, creativity is given secondary status to giftedness.
    Second, and especially when a person has the gifts of both logical and non-linear thinking, we are deluged with options. Almost any traditional discipline, from anthropology to zoology, from medicine to management science, are available to us. How does one decide? We are not taught how, and most people project onto us their own image of achievement, and do not or cannot help us identify our own. It may appear to be lovely and charming to have so many options: in reality it is horrific. So many open doors, and no means to select.
    I have had broad experience: architecture, IT, advertising, business strategy, animal genetics, corporate finance, IPOs, privatization, landscape design, political economy, community economic development, diagnostic imaging. Frankly, I suspect that many people read my resume and think I am lying, so I twist it to artfully leave out large swaths to be acceptable. I am tired of the chameleon life. I have been part of innovations in almost every one of the fields listed. But do not be fooled - organizations say they want creativity and innovation, but they are for the most part unable to tolerate us.
    I have learned, later in life now, that one must choose. Variety may be interesting, but it can only offer limited success, and that the real joy comes from mastery, which requires dedication. If I knew then what I know now, I would allow myself to have chosen anything, and would tell myself to trust that the choice is not a loss or a limit, but a passage to freedom within it. Our world values focus, not adaptability, repetition not innovation, in spite of what you hear.
    • thumb

      michael jelacic

      • 0
      Mar 3 2013: Well said . We are intolerable I suppose.. As for myself I have already changed the world somewhat developing software which Kodak has used since I was 19 when I developed this digital innovation for the corporate giant .. 1996 - 2004 were great years although I should have aimed higher. The systems replace Polaroid in malls at Santa venues and theme parks coasters but I feel that's somewhat insignificant as to how or in what way I'd like to help the world and its people .. I know now its tools they need in real world scenarios work play education law government or to earn money since millions sit home after have great careers with corporate giants like GM. These people need help more importantly their children for future economic stability. To me the visions are simplistic yet most can not see .. Which is probably why Mark Z needs to see Instagram or xplatform before he makes his choice and that's fine I can't even spell algorithm but I know what it can do and how and whee to apply it .. This creativity is always with us from early sages that's where order is needed and a standard to be set for the recording or creating of such ideas or innovative solutions. Everyone has their place on a team this position however in bench or Allstar no I between I have weathered both now benched watching Kodak as they have no idea and Facebook with what they can do for people in many walks of life as well as many others I feel I am doing the world and its people am injustice by not voicing that I know what the people need want and how Facebook Google the web the cloud mobile advertising etc can do easily to provide or give back to help and obviously help their bottom line ..

      But whom do I tell now Steve Jobs would have listened for I feel I have the same type vision although I can improve the iPhone features tremendously ... Maybe my mentor is by my side knowing I have true goals to help change and simplify not scams n shame to rape people of their hard earned dollar ..imj2013

    • time bean

      • 0
      Mar 4 2013: I recall that, as a grade school student, I began to realize that turning in my test paper 10" before the next kid resulted in resentment of other kids, an invitation to be bullied, no playmates at recess, demands w/o reward from parents expecting perfection as a base line of all performance (can't draw, awkward physically, poor handwriting) accusations of plagiarism for original work, talking too much and generally irritating teachers with questions and needs for alternative activities while waiting for others to finish (beyond, "ok, you can choose a book,") from the 5 or 6 on a back table, and parade my differentness throughout the entire classroom.
      I recall an example from a bright boy's contribution: we'd been studying multiplication memorization from 2 to 3 etc. When we got to 10, he raised his hand and said, "Or, you can just move the decimal point one number to the right."
      Tcher: "That is not what we are learning right now"! !

    • Marla Terrible

      • 0
      Mar 7 2013: I have had similar problems...when asked "What will you be when you grow up?" I had no answer. The options available overwhelmed me, and I really didn't have any strong guidance. I drifted through school, and I have not been very successful, by many standards (eg. career, relationships, etc.) I have often been angry, and occasionally grateful, to my parents for insisting I stay in public education--angry because it was a great waste of time for me, grateful because it gave me at least a minimum level of social skills.

      Additionally, my own abilities have worked against me in the sense that I have been burdened with the idea of my own intelligence. It is very hard when you know you are smart to accept failure. My lack of success has constantly been a boondoggle, hanging over my shoulder. I have always had the feeling that I am capable of so much more than what I have, yet what could that ephemeral thing be? I am capable of almost anything, and so I don't know where to turn to do something. Most of my life has been defined by what I know I can't do, narrowing the field, when what I so dearly want is some help figuring what I can do.

      And knowing that I am highly capable in potential, I can be paralyzed by the fear of defeat, or the overwhelming view of knowing all that would be required to achieve a goal. Sometimes, someone far less "talented and gifted" than I can accomplish something that I cannot, simply because they do not see the great wave of obstacles standing before them. Taking things one step at a time, without consideration for these factors, is very difficult for me.

      I am rarely satisfied, craving perfection and never achieving it. It is difficult, even, to find good conversation at times. So I post in places like this, or compile other peoples works. I long to be creative, yet I am not able to exercise creativity because I have suffered under the smothering effects of terror of failure for so long. Talking to you now is me trying to escape this terror.
      • thumb

        James Todd

        • 0
        Mar 7 2013: Oh Marla (James here...) I hear you. I know that anger and that terror, too.

        My way out of that morass has been first, to rely on Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way"... get the book, read it and work through the questions, week by week. It does not demand production, only that you care for yourself. It is the only way I have ever found to uncover our creative treasures. It is often a solitary path we tread, but we must walk it.

        Second, pick something to do nearby ("bloom where you are planted"). Third, and I learned this the slow painful way, just pick something, anything. At first, it does. not. matter. (You cannot turn a motionless ship... pick any course, and work with the wind.) You will learn to sail. Later you will master it. And the real joy juice comes from knowing inside that you did it, not any external measures by the world. It is that internal joy juice that fuels the next step.

        Finally, read the book by Brene Brown The Gifts of Imperfection (and revisit her TEDtalks). We need to be vulnerable to let the world in and let our talents out, and Brene has written a wise book about the hurt we feel and how we can honor ourselves.

        I am sure that you, like many of the voices here, have profound intuitive powers. Lean on them now to choose one of these pieces of nourishment.

        James

        • Marla Terrible

          • 0
          Mar 8 2013: Thanks for your quick response James. I am trying hard to do some of the things you have suggested. I really appreciate the resource suggestions! I will keep on working on this.

          Marla

Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.