When starting a business, there is one area that most people get stuck: coming up with the right business idea!

Somehow people get it stuck in their minds that they have to be extraordinarily good at something or be an expert to be able to charge for their product, service, or knowledge.

Or they think that there is nothing special or unique about them that they can offer the world.

If you’ve ever felt that way, then today’s video will help give you a new and powerful framework to landing that all important business idea so you can stop dreaming and start building – it’s called the Talent Stack.

The Singular Talent Myth

Growing up I believed a very powerful myth – a lie that was sold to me in school, in books, and on TV.

Here was how the lie went: everyone is great at something, so find that “one thing”, that one singular talent that’s unique to you and be the best at it!

This idea sent me down a path of struggle for years, looking for my “one thing”.

I wanted to be the most talented rockstar, but then I wanted to be the most talented actor, then the most talented audio engineer.

I struggled with the all or nothing, pick your one singular talent and put all your eggs in that basket myth. 

If you’ve ever heard the phrase “jack of all trades, but master of none” then you knew what my fear was:

To be a master of none.

From Ordinary To Extraordinary

Famous Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams has this amazing concept he calls the talent stack.

The idea is simple, to be successful you don’t need to be the best at any one thing, but rather be a great combination of things.

The idea of a talent stack is that you can combine ordinary skills until you have enough of the right kind to be extraordinary. You don’t have to be the best in the world at any one thing. All you need to succeed is to be good at a number of skills that fit well together.

For example, I’m not much of an artist, not much of a business expert, and my writing skills are mostly self-taught. I’m funny, but not the funniest person in my town. The reason I can succeed without any world-class skills is that my talent stack is so well-designed. (That’s intentional, by the way.) – Scott Adams, Creator of Dilbert

Brilliant!

So let’s look at Scott’s ordinary skill sets: drawing + writing + comedy + business.

He’s not “the best” at any one of those things, not even close.

But when he put them together into the Dilbert comic, he struck gold. He even built the subject matter around his failed attempts at corporate America!

He used every aspect of his life experiences, and the combination created something unique and powerful.

Another example of talent stacking is New York Times bestselling author, Ramit Sethi.  

He combined his knowledge of personal finance + psychology + sarcastic humor + his Indian/American upbringing to connect with an entire generation of people and build a massive business.

By taking your ordinary interests and stacking them together you can become extraordinary!

Let’s Stack Your Talents

Now back to you, and your need for a good business idea.

As you’re seeing, your unique and most powerful contribution to the world will likely come from not just one talent, but a stack of talents that you are average at.

I think Ramit puts it well:

“When you combine two or more fields that you love,  you can be average at both but be the best in the world at their intersection” – Ramit Sethi, Author/Entrepreneur

Here’s what I want you to do: take a moment to jot down the two or three things that you are both passionate about and relatively good at.

It could be cooking, running, and sarcasm for example.

Then brainstorm creative ways to stack those talents and passions.

Perhaps you start a “Nutrition for runners” YouTube channel where you basically make fun of your audience and drop snarky jokes while sharing recipes and eating plans.

Now it doesn’t have to be a YouTube channel and just because you might be sarcastic doesn’t mean you have to make fun of your audience.

That’s just one combination.

The point is that there are a million ways to combine your talents.

Let’s look at my business The Recording Revolution for example.

That brand is a simple but powerful combination of the following talents and passions: music + audio engineering + being on camera + encouraging.

There are people more talented at singing and songwriting than me.

More talented at engineering than me.

People who are better on camera than me.

And there are those who are more encouraging and motivating than me.

But when I put them all together into a singular business and brand – it works!

What Can You Combine To Create An Impactful Business?

Don’t give in to the singular talent myth or the idea that you need to be the best in the world at something.

Identify your main talents, skills, and passions and stack them together into something totally unique.

If that combination can add value to the world, then you are in business my friend!

So let’s get real: what are the two or more talents that make up your talent stack?

Or if you haven’t figured out the combination already, what are some of your talents and passions that you could combine to create something unique?

Leave a comment below and let’s brainstorm your Talent Stack!