Walter Russell Mead: Self Improvement Isn’t Only For Elites

The advice to make the most of your talents applies to everyone. If anything, people who are constantly being told in school and elsewhere that they are ‘too dumb’ are MORE likely to miss their hidden talents and abilities than those who are constantly being told how special they are.

Here. I would just add to that: match what you like to do, what you are good at doing, and what you can get someone to pay for — i.e. how you add value to a product or service — and you have yourself a career.