4 Ways to Showcase your Creative Talent

Let's cut the chase

So you have a talent and are figuring out how to showcase it. When you discover your talent, the next thing to do is to let people see you and appreciate your talent.

Sometimes you have to show up and showcase yourself because you might not know the treasures lying around for you to take hold of.

Showcasing your talent can open up a world of opportunities. And In this post, I'll be sharing 5 ways you can showcase your talent.

Let's begin

Ways to Showcase Your Talent

1. Be active on social media

Social media is powerful. It has a whole lot of advantages for young talents. Many talents are in the spotlight for their active, consistent, and engaging showcase on social media. Most celebrities and influencers today started with just a smartphone and a social media account. They utilized the platform to show the world what they can offer.

To tap into this surefire platform, the first thing is to identify the social media platforms that'll suit your needs. We have social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, LinkedIn, TikTok, and many more. Select one or two that you can stay active on. Don't overwhelm yourself by starting with all platforms at the same time. It's best to start with either 1 or 2 and then grow from there.

When you identify the platform, create an account. I recommend you see what's working for those ahead of you who are already making it n your area of expertise. Draw inspiration from them, and know how to go about yours. Also, learn the platform(s) to know how to succeed in it.

Above all, do well to post consistently. Your consistency matters.

2. Join relevant communities

There is a popular saying, "No man is an Island". This means that you need to be part of a community to thrive, you cannot do it on your own. Don't isolate yourself. Join communities of people with similar interests, skills, or talents. If you sing, join music communities. If you're a dancer, join dance communities. Depending on your talent or skillset, join a community that shares the same as yours.

Communities can open up opportunities where you can display your talent. You'll meet people from different backgrounds and cultures with the same talent as you that can benefit you. Once you're a member of a community, be active and participate in community events. Always show up.

3. Perform in Local events

Search for events in your community, church, or city where you can perform. Stay up-to-date with local news so you will know the events happening in your locality. Reach out to them and get all the information you need to participate. Do the necessary research on the location and the audience you're performing for.

Prepare adequately for the event(s) and go do what you know how to do best.

4. Participate in Talent Shows and Competitions

Talent shows and competitions can help you challenge yourself. According to Wikipedia, Talent shows are a way to help boost the self-esteem, confidence, and assurance of youth. You can find talent shows about anything from singing, dancing, cooking, drawing, etc. Competitions like this not only help you to showcase yourself, but also helps to overcome your fear.

You can search for talent competitions you can participate. One of those is the Blazing Youngsters Talent hunt. You can enroll in our ongoing and future competitions. You can also join our community of youngsters and young adults where we help them discover, empower and showcase their talents and skills. You can find out more about our competition here.

Finally,

Showcasing your talent can open up new doors and opportunities. It can also help you attract the attention of the people you need to help in your journey. It's a very rewarding experience that will attract respect and recognition.

To your success!

Self-Confidence Quiz for Teens: Are you Super Confident, Confident, or Less Confident? (Find out!)

"I'm shy, I don't think I can do this"

" I'm too small "

"I'm just 13, I don't think I'm good enough for this"

"I don't have the confidence to do this"

"I'm shy and can't stand the crowd"

I hear this and many more from teenagers and young adults. Now, you have to understand that nobody was born to be confident. Nobody was crafted to do the BIG things.

There's no age bracket for becoming great or being self-confident. Building self-confidence is a process and sometimes comes with experience. You don't expect people to believe in you when you don't believe in yourself.

Self-confidence starts in the mind. It's all about what you think. If you think positive thoughts and believe you are confident, then that is who you are. People will also see you as a confident person.

In this post, you will test your confidence level and know where you stand and what to work on. I got this self-confidence test from the book, "Think Confident and be confident for teens" by Marci G.Fox PHD., and Leslie Sokol PHD - a must-read for all teenagers, and adults too. I tested myself too.

Let's find out your self-confidence level

TEST YOUR SELF-CONFIDENCE

Read each of the following sentences carefully.

If you agree with a sentence, give yourself a 3.

If you disagree, write down a 1.

If you’re somewhere in the middle, give yourself a 2.

Take a piece of paper and a pen and write down your score for each sentence.

Remember to be honest to yourself while taking the test.

1) I can start a conversation with anyone in

any situation at any time. (write down your score)

2) I am willing to tackle almost any task

presented to me. (write down your score)

3) I am at ease with who I am. (write down your score)

4) I can ask for help if I need it. (write down your score)

5) I take it for granted that people want to

spend time with me. (write down your score)

6) I’m comfortable operating at my own

pace. (write down your score)

7) I can do the things I like even if I do

them alone. (write down your score)

8) I am willing to face challenging

situations head-on. (write down your score)

9) I am comfortable giving my honest

opinion. (write down your score)

10) I don’t get rattled when I make a

mistake. (write down your score)

Now, add up your score.

Let's find out the meaning of your score:

28–30 You are super-confident.

25–27 You are confident.

16–24 You are somewhat lacking in confidence.

10–15 You are seriously lacking in confidence.

If your score is 25 or higher, congratulations! you are confident.

You have the self-confidence to face nearly any situation, knowing you can handle it. Your confidence enables you to reach for your goals, try new

things, act independently and effectively, and enter social situations

free from doubt.

When you believe you’re competent and a good, likable person,

you become your own greatest resource. Confidence helps you

highlight your strengths. It also enables you to recognize and

identify your weaknesses so that you can improve these areas,

using outside resources if necessary.

You’ve gained unshakeable self-esteem because you hold a good opinion of yourself. You recognize that situations may temporarily be distressing but do not

allow it to change your core view of who you are.

If you scored below 25, you need to keep building your self-confidence. Reinforcing your skills will get you there. Retraining your brain to move from self-doubt to confidence is no different than strengthening a muscle through weight training: you build up to more reps, or to more weight, over repeated workouts.

I highly recommend the book I mentioned at the beginning of this post;

"Think Confident and be confident for teens". You will learn from the stories of other teenagers. You will also learn how to fight self-doubt, understand a self-confidence mindset, and practical steps to build your self-confidence.

It all depends on you to be confident. Being confident is a choice. And I can tell you that It's one of the best choices you'll make in life. From the book, "Confidence helps you to see the accurate picture"

Stay Confident!

7 Ways to Release Your Creative Skills

Have you ever thought of how to become creative?

you think creativity is a skill you need to learn.

Or, you see other young adults creating things and you feel they were born with it and you are not.

Now, let me tell you this…

Everyone, including you, is creative. Creativity runs in your veins. God, the maker of the universe is a creative being. Remember he created everything including you and me. He designed the heavens, the earth, and the living beings. We see his display of creativity around us.

God created man in his own image, In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them

Genesis 1:27

If you're created in the Image of God, that means you have the DNA of God in you. So, you are also a creative being. Creativity is part of you. There is no gift of creativity. You own it. Thus, there is a need to develop your creative skills.

In this post, I will be telling you 7 ways to release your creative ability.

Set?

Let's begin

What is creativity?

First, let's understand what creativity means.

Oxford dictionary defines creativity as the use of imagination or original ideas to create something. According to CSU, Creativity is defined as the tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others, and entertaining ourselves and others.

In simpler terms, creativity is the act of making something new that is not existing before. Creativity means thinking outside the box. As a creative person, you don't settle for the regular. The human brain fights change.

Have you ever noticed when you are about to make a massive step and you see yourself feeling reluctant about it? That is the box of the regular. It's soothing staying in that box. If you want to be flexible and open yourself to creative ideas, you have to step out of that box.

7 ways to release your creative skills

1. Create an environment

Set out a place in your house where you can think and play with ideas. It can be your room or library, but make sure it's quiet and free from distractions. This may sound funny but I get most of my ideas in the restroom.

2. Face your fear

Fear is a limiting force that prevents us from unleashing our creative abilities. Find your true fear, face it and conquer it.

3. Have a mental picture

Give your imagination the freedom to think, to have a mental picture, to see outside of the box.

4. Write

Writing helps to boost your thinking. It also helps to boost your imagination and you the platform to express yourself.

5. Have a notepad everywhere you go

Ideas do not have a specific time they come. They can come up to your mind at any time. When you do not have your notepad handy, you'll lose it.

It is best to always have a notepad very close to you even while you're sleeping. Don't think you will remember because you won't. I've lost some ideas because I had nothing to take them down and thought I'll remember but I never did. So, I lost them. Your ideas should be written down not lost.

6. Make friends with creative people

Be surrounded by creative minds. Remember, iron sharpeneth iron. When you mingle with creative people would encourage cooperation and quality challenge. Whom you see determines what you see. What you see determines what you do.

7. Learn something new

Try learning something new. You can learn online or in person. It can be creative writing, computer programming, design, etc. Try learning something you've not learned before.

Remember,

To release your creative skills:

1. Create an environment

2. Face your fear

3. Have a mental picture

4. Write

5. Have a notepad everywhere you go

6. Make friends with creative people

7. Learn something new

To develop a creative mind, open your mind to new things. Solve what you've not solved before. Make things that look harder simpler.

Create solutions to problems. Get out of the box of limitations; the regular, and wear your creative hat.

See you at the top!