01-22-2014, 10:39 AM
Talent is certainly over-rated and the word gets thrown around alot, especially when it comes to those who make art. Talent, really, is just the ability to pick up on a skill quicker on average than your peers, whatever that skill may be. However, that initial natural ability only takes you so far if you don't work at it, as in time, those who put in the hours will eventually overtake those who don't, regardless of how much natural ability they have. If talent alone was so important it would be common to see children making scientific breakthroughs, painting masterpieces and writing amazing novels. I feel that talent can have a snowball effect, though - those who are good at something enjoy doing it, so they do more of it and get even better, where as the guy who struggles is more likely to give up.
I do think ones genetic makeup has its limits in how far you can really go, though. I could never be an Olympic level swimmer no matter how much practice I put in or how passionate I was. My natural build is too short and stubby to be optimal for swimming, and those more genetically tailored to suit the sport would ruin me. I think it's the same for everything in life.
I do think ones genetic makeup has its limits in how far you can really go, though. I could never be an Olympic level swimmer no matter how much practice I put in or how passionate I was. My natural build is too short and stubby to be optimal for swimming, and those more genetically tailored to suit the sport would ruin me. I think it's the same for everything in life.