Mantra for Success: Talent or Hard Work?

Talent has been defined as an individual’s natural aptitude or skill. A person tries a hand at something and performs incredibly in the very first attempt, while others find it difficult to carry out the same task.

Some just seem to be better at some particular things than others. However, can you rely solely on your innate skills to deliver the outcome or results you yearn for?

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The matter of the fact is that talent is futile and fails to deliver the desired outcome unless an individual puts his heart and soul into something. Pure talent can only take one so far, and it is the hard work that makes one cross the line at the end of the race. If one is not willing to put extra efforts and work to harvest and cultivate their innate abilities, then the talent is useless.

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Some scientists have even argued that there is no such thing as talent and it is all an attitude that we have developed owing to our failures. In their book, 'Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise,' Anders Ericsson, a renowned psychologist, and Robert Pool, a celebrated science writer, argue that besides for our height and build, we are all genetically the same. Hence, the idea of someone being ‘naturally gifted’ derives from our attitude of not being able to perform a task well. They further say that ‘The greatest gift we can give our children is confidence in their ability to remake themselves again and again and the tools with which to do that job.'  

Those, who believe that some people are born with special abilities, include many famous personalities. Oscar Wilde, a well-known Irish novelist, poet, essayist, and playwright, believed that he was a ‘natural’ when he said ‘I put all my genius into my life; I put only my talent into my works.’ In another author, Leo Buscaglia’s words, ‘Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.’ 

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Some people are also of the belief that though a few may be born with talents, it is something that can be built through consistent hard work. Talent can only take you so far, and unless one strives for success, the talent is essentially wasted. It can give you a head start, but it is your determination and perseverance that takes you across the finish line. 

Furthermore, an innate skill is scarce and so is seeing someone overcome challenges. While some people trust their talent and fail to work hard, others may work hard but not have an innate ability. The combination of the two is the key which helps unlock the door to ultimate success. That is why they say that hard work beats talent if talent fails to work hard. 

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So, talent or hard work, which one do you think matters the most? Tell us through your comments in the section below, and also, do not forget to vote in the interesting poll that we have created for you.

(Featured Image Courtesy: The Huffington Post)