What we refer to as “talent” is actually a set of attributes, not just a single on-off switch. A concert pianist needs physical dexterity as well as a good ear and a sense of rhythm. Most things can be broken down into such skill sets. Think about what it takes to be a good manager, a good president, a good parent. Music is no exception, and to excel at it requires a synthesis of developed talent and acquired knowledge.
Like the proverbial tree falling in the forest with no one around to hear, talent undiscovered may as well not exist. That being the case, we can hardly lament its loss. We can, however, mourn the talent that goes undeveloped, talent that exists but is squandered. In contrast, we often reserve the highest praise for those who overachieved with limited natural abilities, those who outworked and outperformed rivals who possessed greater innate gifts.
That last tendency has always struck me as unfair. why isn’t the capacity for hard work considered a natural gift? I don’t think it’s a compliment to say that someone “did more with less,” even though it’s usually intended that way. If a soccer player who is short and can’t run fast practices more than everyone else and becomes the superior player, has he overcome a talent deficit or simply exploited his talent to work harder and found a way to be successful through determination and focus?
Michael Jordan was famous for his athleticism and high-flying dunks, yet he was also the first to arrive at practice and the last to leave. In interviews, Jordan’s teammates and coaches all talk about his extreme discipline, not his leaping ability. One veteran NBA manager said of Jordan’s talent, “Without the ceaseless work ethic, Jordan is merely another talented athlete gliding through an admirable career, but nothing historic.”
I agree, but again this makes it sound as if Jordan’s discipline and capacity for work are not intrinsic parts of his talent. The ability to push yourself to the limit day after days, and to do so effectively, may not be as evident as physical skills, but it was something Michael Jordan cultivated his entire career and is a talent that we should all try to cultivate.
So before you tell yourself you don’t have the talent of a Michael Jordan or whoever your role model is, remember the extraordinary amount of time they devoted to practice and study. To succeed like them you must put in the effort they did. Otherwise, you can never know what you’re capable of. I believe that if opportunity isn’t provided at a young age, it can be created later in adulthood through discipline and imaginative involvement in the pursuits we care about. You can and must look for ways to experiment and to push the boundaries of your capacity in different areas.
Tags: Michael Jordan, Talent
April 18th, 2008
Very true. There was a time when I thought simply talent will springboard me where I needed to go. It is a combination of patience, hardwork — shit, all that shit you just mentioned!
Read a book called “Letters to a young poet” by Rilke. You can skip through most of it, or skim until you find something that strikes a cord, but it touches on many of the topics you’re throwing out into the cypher.
Good post homie
April 18th, 2008
This is dope man. You make a really good point. That MJ example was right on. Hard work is what separates the good from the great. There are no shortcuts.
November 18th, 2008
Great post man. I fully agree. I was just reading an article about this new book coming out by Malcolm Gladwell called “The Outliers”. He discusses this very topic and says 10,000 hours is the “magic number” for how much practice someone puts in before they become a master of their craft. He uses examples like Bill Gates, Mozart, The Beatles, etc. I’m doing a short blog post about it tomorrow. Definitely a book I’m gonna look into once it’s out. Again, great post man!