Art Blakey, the legendary jazz drummer, said that talent is how quickly someone learns something.
Talent- “Natural aptitude or skill” is how Oxford defines it.
According to the Cambridge dictionary, talent is “A natural ability to excel at something, even without being taught”. Art Blakey is more accurate, although dictionaries may be more reliable. Talent will be more about the ability to finish the work than on natural “Magical” abilities.
While we may all be considered equal under the law, how likely is it that we actually believe that all of us are equal? Nearly everyone has something that makes them different from others. There are always things that work better than others. Who would be so lucky to turn their talents into a career? It would make for some of the most entertaining entrepreneurship stories. It would be so easy for them to succeed in their chosen fields. Or, the other way around, how difficult it would be for normal people to challenge them.
Although it is true that success does not guarantee success, it does not necessarily mean that you will succeed. Success is determined by many other factors. We have a Marie Curie, a child prodigy. But we also have an Albert Einstein. He might not have done well in mathematics in school (it is a myth that his maths failed), but he went on to be the world’s best physicist.
Albert Einstein said, “I don’t have any special talents. I’m only passionately curious.”
It is a gift from the deity for the very special, but it can be redeemed at any time. A natural ability is a powerful advantage over those who don’t have it. But does it last for a lifetime or do you need to refine it? A boon is an entrepreneur who has the ability to create things. But those blessings can only be reflected in the venture’s success.
The famous economics rule applies here too, because it is perishable. It loses value if it is not used in the right time. It is amazing to see how quickly a talent can die. Think of Mike Tyson. We all know him from his other skills than boxing. He is also a skilled pigeon-racer. Many of us are familiar with Benjamin Franklin’s Chess skills. These are just a few examples of talent that is perishing. They were great at one thing, but not all people are as fortunate as them. What is the reason for this rotten talent? A common instinct many people have is procrastination. Procrastination is a common problem that can hinder your ability to improve your skills. A blunt edged sword is not the best choice.
Stephen King, a famous American author, said that talent is more expensive than table salt. The difference between a talented person and a successful one is hard work.
Would Michael Jordan, the most well-known basketball player ever, have joined a junior high school team if talent had prevailed over hardwork?
After his coach didn’t consider him worthy to be among the school’s top 10, Jordan had to do it.
He said that talent wins games but intelligence and hardwork win championships.
Hard work is the fuel that ignites the flame. Entrepreneurs must seek perseverance and determination to make the most of their talent.
Dictionary is the only place in which achievement and accomplishment can be achieved without hard work. It is impossible to achieve success without hard work and talent. Entrepreneurs choose a safer path to success than the short-cut that never leads to their destiny.
Teamwork makes the dream work
It is not as simple as it seems. According to Anders Ericsson’s research (popularized in Malcom Gladwell’s book Outliers), elite musicians practiced an average of 10,000 hours per week while those with less ability only practiced an average of 4,000 hours. There must have been exceptions, as the common thinking goes. A few hours would be enough to get to the elite list for some super-talented people. The data showed a very different picture. The study found a direct correlation between hours practiced and achievement. The stat is applicable mainly to sports but it doesn’t compare to entrepreneurial professionalism. It’s hard to imagine a more pragmatic way of expressing the principle “practice makes perfect”.
Talent can help you discover your potential and decide what you want. While talent can be a guide to your destiny, the only thing that will get you through all the obstacles and odds is perseverance and hardwork.
Let’s simplify the equation. Arithmetically talent equals zero, and hard work equals one. It doesn’t matter how many zeros there are, the only thing that increases its value is the one at the front of all zeros. You need that digit-one to make the profession you are seeking worth your time. Without it, all zeroes will be meaningless. A zero increases value but is it worthless if it’s not there? It still has some value, even without talent. Talent may be an advantage, but talent is not the only thing that matters. Hard work will beat talent if talent isn’t hard worked.
Entrepreneurship is like a puzzle. Talent and other attributes are pieces, but hard work is the framework. As the rule goes, you will find something unexpectedly and someone will make something from the clay. For those transitions, hard work is better than talent.
