People can be characterized as talented very easily. When praising a work of art, or other
noteworthy accomplishments, you usually find the words “talented,” or “gifted”.
A musician is considered talented if they have created a piece that receives some attention,
particularly on the charts. Such people are quickly given titles like “infamous,” “iconic,” and
“legendary,” further elevating them to the level of superhuman in society.
But is talent a true indicator of success? The benefits of putting in a lot of effort can be
overlooked. Many aspiring “talents,” think that all they need are their natural gifts to create
outstanding works. This is misleading. Talent by itself is insufficient. Eventually, when this fact becomes clear to them, it leads to irritability, disappointment, and sometimes even mental health problems.
Hard Work vs Talent
One of the most insightful statements ever made in this regard is the proverb, “Hard work trumps talent when talent fails to work hard.” You could be the most talented person on the planet. But if you don’t put in the effort to maintain it and make it known to others, you’ll pass up chances to succeed to the degree you’re capable of.
As a result of effort, your talent develops into your secret weapon – an asset you can draw upon. If you don’t put in hard work, talent withers away slowly, like a candle without a flame.
At some point or another, famous personalities including Jack Ma, Oprah Winfrey, and Michael Jordan all heard that they were not good enough to succeed in their careers. Before he started to write songs for others and began his incredible career, Bruno Mars was told that he was a terrible musician. When she was younger, Shakira had to endure bullying from her peers and teachers for her style of singing. Elvis Presley was criticized and told his career in music wouldn’t advance quickly. Even the Beatles were told that lacked the talent that they needed to have a significant impact on the music industry.
All of these exceptional people were able to overcome the doubts people showed about their talent with hard work. They developed into masterpieces in their own right.
Let’s dispel this common misconception and contrast between hard work vs talent.
For talent to be effective, it must be refined
Simply put, having talent is inadequate unless it is enhanced. Talent can only be put to use if its owner takes the necessary steps to develop it. If your skill is viola playing, there are a lot of other people who are also proficient with this instrument. What strategies will you use to differentiate yourself from the competition? This is achieved by discovering new playing techniques or mastering different models. The same is true for a gifted songwriter who aspires to become a better songwriter rather than remaining merely “talented.”
All these calls for watching instructional videos, taking music lessons, and drawing ideas from other luminaries in your industry. Those who start out with a lot of talent and go on to succeed put in a lot of practice time. They had to work harder than others who were satisfied with their natural talent.
Success requires hard work, not just talent
One is frequently led to think that having natural talent is the most essential criterion for success in any industry. However, almost all illustrative instances of significant accomplishments involve some level of effort on the part of the achiever.
Outstanding athletes in sports, like Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, and Serena Williams, are
frequently praised for having natural talents. A closer look at their careers will reveal the
tremendous amount of nonstop practice. The supporters around them who helped push them harder cannot be ignored as well.
In actuality, the majority of athletes possess natural talents. The extraordinary success of the few who go on to become champions was frequently only made possible by a little bit more effort and time. Because of their training, they were able to exert a little bit more endurance, allowing them to continue working even when their “gifts” weren’t working.
There are numerous instances in the music industry of individuals that, despite not being the best vocalist, performers, or songwriters, still forged successful careers. Some of these individuals have outperformed their peers who were thought to be more gifted.
Success depends more on EQ than IQ
Many industries have adopted the common hiring practice of administering IQ tests to job
candidates. This is to ascertain how naturally talented they are in their chosen fields. But in
recent years, the emphasis has shifted from intellectual intelligence (IQ) to emotional intelligence (EQ). With the goal of promoting business growth, businesses are increasingly searching for people with a high EQ. These individuals can maximize the performance of work teams and are positioned to oversee crucial areas of business.
This is due to the fact that numerous studies have shown that factors such as efficiency, empathy, and good communication skills are largely linked to EQ rather than brainpower. Additionally, it appears that workers who perform better on the EQ scale are more motivated to put in more effort. In fact, they frequently make more money than their IQ-higher counterparts.
Over time, the music business has experienced the same thing. Numerous musicians who weren’t the most talented have still managed to achieve huge success. Many times, these artists are more in tune with their feelings and use their EQ to connect with their listeners. With emotional intelligence, they have established business alliances that benefit their fan bases.
Conclusion
To be clear on the topic of hard work vs talent, there is nothing improper about natural talents. In spite of the fact that you may not yet be aware of your own gift, everyone is born with the potential to excel in something. However, it takes a lot more than talent to succeed at any level and in any area.
Your capacity to advance your career, particularly in industries like music, is also influenced by the relationships you forge with people and the habits you form. But ultimately, how far you may go and the impact you leave behind depends largely on how hard you work.
