Wasted Talent: When Purpose Gets Misused, Misplaced, or Misunderstood

Wasted Talent: When Purpose Gets Misused, Misplaced, or Misunderstood

Have you ever watched someone with incredible talent misuse it or even not use it at all?

Maybe they’re charming but manipulative. Maybe they’re visionary but never take action. Maybe they show up with big energy in the workplace, but behind the scenes, it’s all about competition, not collaboration. The question of, “What if they used that energy for good?”, is what sparked this week’s episode.

This week’s episode of the KimUnity Soulutions Podcast is a heartfelt exploration of wasted talent. Not from a place of judgment, but from a place of awareness. A space for pause, reflection, and redirection.

The truth is: We all have gifts.
We all carry something powerful within us, but how we use those gifts...that’s where the difference lies. 

In this episode, I walk through several personality types and workplace behaviors we’ve all encountered or maybe even embodied ourselves. The charismatic teammate whose energy hides manipulation. The performer who pushes too hard for recognition. The strategist who misuses their brilliance to stir division instead of building connection. The empath who gives so much they leave nothing for themselves.

These are not characters in a story. These are real people. Maybe you. Maybe me.

As a reminder, this is about blame, it’s about choosing to do better once we know better.

Talents vary... some are bold and visible, others are quiet and deeply rooted. While all of them matter, none of them are meant to be wasted.

It's easy to point the finger at someone else.  I'm sure someone came to mind as you read this, but we know we can't change them and often don't get to choose who we're surrounded by.

We’re often working besides, living with, or leading people who are still figuring themselves out. People who may not even realize they’re wasting their talent, misusing their energy, or letting unhealed parts of themselves spill over into how they treat others. And while we can’t control them, we can choose how we respond.

This episode wasn’t about calling out the behavior. It was about recognizing it, extending grace, holding space for others to grow, and also setting boundaries.

I mean....who are we to judge?  Who are we to say they are the ones who need to change?  Who says our perspective is accurate?

In your workplace, in your family, in your community, there will always be different energies, different expressions of talent, and different levels of self-awareness. 

So what can you do?

Be the example...be the one who uses your gift for good. 

We don't have to call out Wasted Talent, when we can call in Potential. 

This approach just may be the angle that encourages positive transformation.

When we use our gifts with positive intention, we create impact in our workplace and in our world.

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Let’s stay connected:
🎧 Watch the full episode on YouTube: Wasted Talent
🌐 Visit the website: www.kimunitysoulutions.com
🃏 Explore the Questions and Perspectives card deck designed to move from small talk and into meaningful conversations.
✨ Ready to bring this work into your workplace? Let’s connect: Click here
📱 Follow me on Instagram: @kimunitysoulutions

Thank you for being here. Stay gifted, stay gracious, and most of all, use your talent for good.

With love,
Kim the SME

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