It’s peculiar how easily the word “talent” is tossed around. For the longest time, it seemed it was a label reserved for athletes, musicians & other artists. In recent years, it’s been regularly attributed to every profession & duty imaginable. Politicians, executives, animal trainers, surgeons, caregivers… if you can name it, there’s a ‘talented’ individual doing it.
Every one of us wants to feel special. It’s human nature. The real kicker is when we find ourselves impressed by what someone else can do, when we feel their seemingly effortless handling of a scenario it’s easier to consider them somehow superhuman by labeling them talented than it is to acknowledge the truth of their doings as developed skill & experience.
Effort+Practice+Repetition=Talent
Talent is forged, not gifted. It’s the end result of commitment and grind and finding new ways to work.
We’ve seen the evidence time & again: Michael Jordan, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Brady, Van Gogh. It’s easier to assign the mystical label of “talented” to these types than it is to simply acknowledge the amount of work, drive & dedication that goes on behind the scenes in their lives. Their work is incredible to look at because of their consummate commitment. Talent is the excuse that allows the rest of us to say we could never be that good. Talent is the improbably insurmountable wall that separates us from them. Talent is the great myth.
Being talented isn’t the goal. Committing to the work is. Showing up. Day in, day out, regardless of the arena, then putting your work out there, & then being open to the feedback that will help you shape your work more.
Then rinse & repeat.
Because the work is never actually done.
talent is overrated. Skill with trial & error are not.