Some People Just Have It. I Never Have.

Always trying to keep up

I used to get frustrated, I mean really frustrated, by how some people seem to glide through life powered by natural talent. You know the ones: they pick up new skills on the first try, never had to study, and can just “wing it” and still win. Meanwhile, I was the guy making flashcards, rehearsing speeches alone in my car (even adding notes when to studder), and Googling “free printable worksheets” on weekends. I saw it as a flaw, like I had to work twice as hard just to keep up. It was frustrating, and honestly, it took a toll on my confidence. But over the years, I’ve learned something important, something that’s changed how I see myself, and how I raise my kids.

Running My Own Race

A recent example is my wife can lace up her shoes, head out the door, and run a half marathon with no training. Me? If I don’t follow a training plan with intervals, recovery runs, tempo days; I barely improve. I used to think that meant something was wrong with me, like I wasn’t built for performance. But over time, I started to appreciate the structure, the discipline, and the rhythm. That process, especially measuring it, became something I enjoyed.

The tracking, the pacing, the daily commitment, it all became less about catching up to others and more about becoming better than I was yesterday. When you let go of comparing yourself to others, especially those who can just wing it, you gain a kind of peace. That mental shift made running more sustainable and more fun. That mindset became part of other aspects of my life, especially parenting.

When Speaking Isn't Easy

Public speaking is another place where natural talent always seemed to shine for other people. My coworker can be called on with zero prep and give a presentation so smoothly you’d think he was prepping for it for weeks. Meanwhile, I spend hours scripting, revising, rehearsing during my commute, recording myself on my phone, and still manage to miss key points. Over time each speech was just a little easier than the last. That growth didn’t come from talent; it came from repetition.

And that extra effort started to matter in a way that talent couldn’t match. I wasn’t just learning what to say, I was learning how to say it, when to pause, how to engage. That kind of skill, built from deliberate practice, started to feel more reliable than talent alone. I began to trust my preparation, and that trust turned into confidence.

How I Parent Differently Now

That’s a lesson I bring into fatherhood all the time. When my kids are struggling with something new, tying their shoes (what we are currently working on), catching a ball, reading a tricky word, I don’t rush in and fix it. I remind them it’s okay to practice. That not being good yet isn’t failure, it’s just the start. I tell them what I wish someone told me more often: “You’re not behind. You’re just learning.”

The Stubborn Student

Back in college there was this guy in my class who never took notes, never studied, and basically seemed to absorb knowledge. I, on the other hand, was the worksheet king. If there were YouTube videos, I would watch them all. If there was a study guide, I filled it out twice. I wasn’t the smartest guy in the room, but I might’ve been the most stubborn. That stubbornness got me through more tests than I can count.

The Batman Mindset

I’m sorry but I have to add a nerdy example. Well actually I’m not sorry, this is my blog . Let’s look at Batman. He’s one of the most iconic heroes of all time, but unlike Superman or Spider-Man, he has no superpowers. Just a regular guy with a purpose, and an absolutely relentless work ethic. He’s also the richest man in the world but let’s look past that for now lol. Batman is a hero not because things came easy, but because he made the choice to train, to study, to prepare for every possible outcome. He took pain and turned it into purpose. That’s what makes him so powerful and so relatable. He’s proof that greatness doesn’t have to be born it can be built

What I Gained From Struggling

Back then, I thought that made me less, that needing to work so hard meant I wasn’t naturally smart. But looking back, it taught me one of the most valuable skills I have today: how to learn. I didn’t just memorize, I built systems. Now, as a Dad, I get to pass that mindset on. And I try to model that effort every day and look for ways that my kids learn and understand best.

Parenting: The Ultimate Test

It turns out that parenting itself is the ultimate “practice over talent” arena. No one is a naturally perfect parent, no matter what social media tells you. Every part of being a Dad requires learning, adjusting, messing up, and trying again. The fact that I was never naturally gifted in other areas makes me better prepared for this. I already know how to keep going when something’s hard, hell, at this point I look forward to it.

How I Support My Kids

Here’s the wild part: now that I’m a Dad, I see how valuable my struggles have been. I’m more patient and more empathetic because of all those hours I spent falling short and trying again. When my kids try something and get discouraged, when they feel like they’re not enough, I don’t say, “Come on, that should be easy.” I say, “It’s okay to be bad at something when you’re just starting. Let’s practice together.” They don’t need a perfect Dad. One who shows them how to keep going.

Modeling Grit, Not Perfection

This approach changes everything, not just for them but for me. I no longer chase being the best, I chase being consistent. And with every attempt, whether I succeed or not, I’m modeling something more important than talent: grit. Grit isn’t glamorous. It doesn’t always win trophies. But it does build character, connection, and long-term success.

Trying Counts

I’ve even started celebrating effort more visibly in front of my kids. I’ll say out loud, “This was hard for me, but I’m proud I didn’t give up.” Whether I’m working out, starting this blog, cooking a cake that flops, or fixing something around the house, I want them to see that trying counts. That real life isn’t about looking effortless, it’s about showing up. Every. Single. Day.

The Legacy I Want to Leave

Natural talent might be impressive, but perseverance is contagious. And in the long run, it’s the ones who keep going that inspire the most. Not because it came easy, but because they chose to keep trying when it didn’t. That’s the story I’m writing. That’s the legacy I want to leave. And that’s the message I hope my kids carry long after I’m gone.

Because It’s Hard

There’s a famous quote from President John F. Kennedy that’s always stood out to me “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” That line hits different now. Choosing to try, over and over again, is hard. We grow and we parent not because it’s easy… but because it’s worth it.

-SavePointDad