---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we're able to put most of our energy…"
description: "\"When we're able to put most of our energy into developing our natural talents, extraordinary room for growth exists\" — Tom Rath"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/tom-rath-3501_able_when-we-re-able-to-put-most-of-our-energ_1191587.png"
---

#  When we're able to put most of our energy into developing…

![“When we're able to put most of our energy into developing our natural talents, extraordinary room for growth exists” quote by Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/tom-rath-3501_able_when-we-re-able-to-put-most-of-our-energ_1191587.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/tom-rath-3501_able_when-we-re-able-to-put-most-of-our-energ_1191587.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/tom-rath-3501_able_when-we-re-able-to-put-most-of-our-energ_1191587.png)

> “When we're able to put most of our energy into developing our natural talents, extraordinary room for growth exists”

[Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Focusing on innate strengths creates space for exceptional development and achievement.

**In simple terms:** Use your talents to grow.

Key Takeaway

Leverage strengths for growth.

Themes

strengths growth potential

Mood

inspirational motivational

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- career planning
- personal development
- team building

Key Concepts

positive psychology talent development

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance strengths with areas for improvement?
- What talent have you underutilized?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on strengths may neglect needed skill gaps.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Developing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developing/) [Developing Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developing-natural-995626/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Extraordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extraordinary/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Natural talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-talent/) [Natural Talents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-talents-740541/) [Room Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/room-growth-762939/) [Rooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooms/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talents/) [Talents Extraordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talents-extraordinary-3538250/)

## Related quotes

> [“When we're able to put most of our energy into developing our natural talents, extraordinary room for growth exists. So, a revision to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/when-we-re-able-to-put-most-of-our-energy-into-developing-our-natural-2/)

[Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

> [Whatever may be our natural talents, the art of writing is not acquired all at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/whatever-may-be-our-natural-talents-the-art-of-writing-is-not/)

[Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/)

> [As your body deteriorates, your natural talents start to go a little bit. You have to bring in physical working out, building, taking protein…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-roethlisberger/as-your-body-deteriorates-your-natural-talents-start-to-go-a-little/)

[Ben Roethlisberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-roethlisberger/)

> [Research shows that the happiest people are those who use their natural talents to the utmost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/research-shows-that-the-happiest-people-are-those-who-use-their/)

[T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/)

> [You shouldn't take pride in your natural talents any more than you should take pride in your sex, your race or color of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/you-shouldn-t-take-pride-in-your-natural-talents-any-more-than-you/)

[Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/)

> [“To develop a strength in any activity requires certain natural talents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/to-develop-a-strength-in-any-activity-requires-certain-natural-talents/)

[Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/)

> [“Most geniuses are geniuses because of the way they manage their natural talents. He was one because of the way he took advantage of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-s-nchez-pi-ol/most-geniuses-are-geniuses-because-of-the-way-they-manage-their/)

[Albert Sánchez Piñol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-s-nchez-pi-ol/)

> [“There is always room for growth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemberly-henderson/there-is-always-room-for-growth/)

[Kemberly Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemberly-henderson/)

> [There's always room for growth. I feel like I'll never get to the point where I'm 100 percent happy with where I am with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/normani-kordei/there-s-always-room-for-growth-i-feel-like-i-ll-never-get-to-the/)

[Normani Kordei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/normani-kordei/)

> [I'm at a point in my life where I have three kids. I'm a father, and you start to take stock and measure yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-bryk/i-m-at-a-point-in-my-life-where-i-have-three-kids-i-m-a-father-and/)

[Greg Bryk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-bryk/)

> [Practice makes perfect? I don't believe in perfect because there is no room for growth. practice makes persistence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milanamay/practice-makes-perfect-i-don-t-believe-in-perfect-because-there-is-no/)

[MilanaMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milanamay/)

> [Be on guard, my soul, of complicating your environment so that you have neither time nor room for growth!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-elliot/be-on-guard-my-soul-of-complicating-your-environment-so-that-you-have/)

[Jim Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-elliot/)

> [“A hobby affords us a marvelous opportunity to awaken our natural talents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/a-hobby-affords-us-a-marvelous-opportunity-to-awaken-our-natural/)

[Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/)

> [I believe it is in the world's interest to develop environments that fully engage women and leverage their natural talents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weili-dai/i-believe-it-is-in-the-world-s-interest-to-develop-environments-that/)

[Weili Dai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weili-dai/)

> [“Natural talents begin to blossom early, but they get nipped in the bud by what I call "the parent, the peer group and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-bray-attwood/natural-talents-begin-to-blossom-early-but-they-get-nipped-in-the-bud/)

[Janet, Bray Attwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-bray-attwood/)

## More by Tom Rath

> [Every day, I read about new ideas and research that could help someone I care about live a longer and healthier life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/every-day-i-read-about-new-ideas-and-research-that-could-help-someone/)

[Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

> [I've seen people be effective, even among local teams, by offering something that improves wellbeing in a small way - people who get passionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-ve-seen-people-be-effective-even-among-local-teams-by-offering/)

[Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

> [“What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths - and can call on the right strength at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-that-each-truly-knows-his-or-her/)

[Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

> [If you want people to understand that you value their contributions and that they are important, the recognition and praise you provide must have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/if-you-want-people-to-understand-that-you-value-their-contributions/)

[Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

> [On average, spending time with your boss is consistently rated as the least pleasurable activity in a given day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/on-average-spending-time-with-your-boss-is-consistently-rated-as-the/)

[Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

> [“Once your brain initially processes something, you are less likely to retain the information if you are not physically active in the period following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/once-your-brain-initially-processes-something-you-are-less-likely-to/)

[Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

> [I would absolutely recommend against excessive positivity and optimism. Any positive emotion that you're infusing into a workplace needs to be grounded in reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-would-absolutely-recommend-against-excessive-positivity-and/)

[Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

> [The vast knowledge we have to prevent cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses is staggering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-vast-knowledge-we-have-to-prevent-cancer-heart-disease-and-other/)

[Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

> [Positive defaults protect you from yourself - and that helps you to make decisions in the moment that are better for your long-term interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/positive-defaults-protect-you-from-yourself-and-that-helps-you-to/)

[Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

> [Making better choices takes work. There is a daily give and take, but it is worth the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/making-better-choices-takes-work-there-is-a-daily-give-and-take-but/)

[Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

> [Having fewer unhealthy days and, in turn, more days when you have the energy to get things done is probably the global constant through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/having-fewer-unhealthy-days-and-in-turn-more-days-when-you-have-the/)

[Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

> [Even if people just change two or three things that they are able to sustain over time, it makes quite a difference eventually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/even-if-people-just-change-two-or-three-things-that-they-are-able-to/)

[Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

> [People with high levels of wellbeing have been careful to work out early in the morning and not to have heavy meals throughout the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/people-with-high-levels-of-wellbeing-have-been-careful-to-work-out/)

[Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

> [The absence of high-quality friendships is bad for your health, spirits, productivity, and longevity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-absence-of-high-quality-friendships-is-bad-for-your-health/)

[Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

> [I'm a researcher, so I'm realistic that there's nothing I'm doing that's going to prevent me from getting cancer in the future. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-m-a-researcher-so-i-m-realistic-that-there-s-nothing-i-m-doing-that/)

[Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

[Explore all 129 Tom Rath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/)

## More Able quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/)

[Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/)

[Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/)

> [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/)

[Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/)

[Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/)

> [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

[Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When we're able to put most of our energy into developing our natural talents, extraordinary room for growth exists",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tom Rath"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/when-we-re-able-to-put-most-of-our-energy-into-developing-our-natural/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Able"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/when-we-re-able-to-put-most-of-our-energy-into-developing-our-natural/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/tom-rath-3501_able_when-we-re-able-to-put-most-of-our-energ_1191587.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/tom-rath-3501_able_when-we-re-able-to-put-most-of-our-energ_1191587.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/tom-rath-3501_able_when-we-re-able-to-put-most-of-our-energ_1191587.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When we're able to put most of our energy into developing our natural talents, extraordinary room for growth…” — Tom Rath",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Tom Rath",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When we're able to put most...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/when-we-re-able-to-put-most-of-our-energy-into-developing-our-natural/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/when-we-re-able-to-put-most-of-our-energy-into-developing-our-natural/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
