[Eton TV] What You Like vs. What You’re Good At

This time, rather than talking about plastic surgery,

I’d like to talk about life.

A topic many people worry about.

'What you like vs. what you’re good at'

Even if you lack talent,

should you keep doing what you like,

or, realistically,

should you look for what you’re good at?

About this topic,

I’ll honestly share the parts

I’ve experienced and thought about.

If it’s an area where your talent is extremely lacking,

I think the chance that you would like it yourself

is almost zero.

If you lack talent too much,

you keep receiving negative feedback.

Then naturally,

you lose interest and step back.

If your talent is so lacking that it’s at the very bottom,

can you still keep liking that work?

In my opinion, the chances are extremely low. You’ll just keep getting frustrated.

For example, imagine being bad at dancing

but thinking you have to keep dancing.

If all you hear is that you’re not good at it,

it’s hard to feel that it’s enjoyable.

If your talent is below average,

but you still find it fun even if you’re a little worse than others,

then it’s definitely worth trying.

Because if you enjoy it,

you end up pouring an enormous amount of time and effort into it.

I believe that if you invest enough time and effort,

you can overcome a lack of talent.

People who work hard because they truly love something

can surpass the talent of people

who are only slightly above average.

Of course, it would be hard to catch up to someone

who has natural talent and also works hard,

but I think you can still reach the top tier.

In the end, if it’s something you like,

you shouldn’t give up.

If you’re worrying about whether to give up or not,

there’s a high chance you don’t actually like it that much.

People who truly like something worry because

it’s hard to give up even when their talent is weak.

If you’re thinking, “I really like this, but I’m worried because my talent is weak,”

I think you can keep going.

Then, as you keep doing it,

you can make up for what you lack and move forward.

That’s a story about “living diligently.”

Younger generations these days value work-life balance,

but to be honest,

I think I’m living a life devoted to work.

Sometimes I wonder, “Am I doing something wrong?”

This is a life you only get once, after all. 😅

But I decided,

“I’ll die while finishing the work I’m doing.”

There is no such thing as completion,

so it just means not giving up and continuing.

There’s an impressive comment I once saw online.

On a post by someone hesitating to take on a challenge, most people said, “Don’t do it.”

But one comment stood out.

“People who tell you to give up are all people who gave up themselves.

Someone who went all the way would never answer like that.”

In the end, I don’t think you need to focus only on whether you’re good at it.

If your goal is to become number one in that field,

then that would be a problem.

But if that’s not the case,

and you’re just doing it because you like it,

then it doesn’t matter what place you rank.

Of course, you can keep going.

I started this current work

because it was fun.

It’s still fun now,

but more importantly, it’s because this defines me.

Being a plastic surgeon

is the heaviest thing that defines who I am now.

The moment I let go of this,

it would feel like my 30 years as a doctor

were suddenly floating in midair.

A work that defines me

and is also enjoyable—

that is truly a huge blessing.

Continuing something that isn’t enjoyable

after all is very difficult.

That’s why it’s important to find something fun.

For those who are struggling between what they like and what they’re good at,

I hope you find something that defines you

and brings you joy.

Thank you.