This is just my experience but I bet I'm not alone. Chime in if you are the same.

If I'm asked to do something I don't want to do, try as I might I just can't seem to get it. But things I want to do or have a drive to do are simple.

Example.
Cars don't thrill me. My motor was blown because of my neglegence. But I love that car and I was used to that car and didn't want to have to learn another one. Nobody would fix it for me and I didn't have 3,000 to pay a mechanic so I took it out piece by piece and put a new one in myself. Everyone who knew what I was doing gave me grief. Thats a hard job for a skilled michanic your wasting your time. I'm a girl. I don't like to be dirty, and like I said before I started I didn't even know how to change my oil. Nobody helped me but I just opened the hood and looked and pried at that motor for 2 weeks and when I was done it worked and has been running fine ever sence.
I still couldn't tell you every parts name. But I can tell you its function. But thats the way it is with everything. I can do lots of stuff that I don't know the words for.
The problem is nobody believes or can understand how you can be so thick headed and then so brilliant and vise versa. Its a touph one to explain.

The best thing I can say is if you want me to learn something. Lay it infront of me. Bet me that I can't get it done and then leave me alone to prove you wrong.

I just need a challange as appose to expectations.

I am the same way! I taught myself Graphic and Web design.. and made it into a business! I turned a profit in the 2nd year of business, which is generally hard to do. I had some people that thought it was just a little extra pocket change because they don't really understand what it is that I do.

Even during this business, I'll get clients coming to me that are looking for something that I've never done. Well, I'm not able to say "I'm sorry, I don't know how to do that". What I'll do is say that I'll do it.. then bust my butt to figure it out and I ALWAYS excel! It's very strange indeed. I know that when I am either interested in something, or put up against the wall and challenged I always come out shining like a bright star!

That is FANTASTIC you guys!! Good for you!

I don't believe that I'm the same way (unfortunately). Maybe on a very (VERY) minute scale - not sure. All I know is that I've NEVER done such amazing things as repairing something complicated or learning a major computer skill well enough to make money from it without someone's help. (I don't have a lot of patience, and I am usually very lazy. It's like the only way I will do anything is if I am somehow threatened that something really terrible will happen if I don't. (And that doesn't always work either.)

Sue