Is Talent Enough?
Really, is talent enough? Yes, but only in the beginning.
Most of us know someone who should have risen to the top but didn't. They have all the talent they should ever need, but they still don't succeed.
Last week we looked at how Talent is Overrated and frequently misunderstood. It's a false and misleading way of looking at success.
Talent stands out
It gets you noticed. In the beginning, talent separates you from the rest of the pack. It gives you a head start on others.
For that reason, natural talent is one of life's greatest gifts. But the advantage it gives only lasts a short time.
"The toughest thing about success is that you've got to keep on being a success. Talent is only a starting point in business. You've got to keep working that talent." —Irving Berlin, Songwriter
Talent is more common than they think
Too many talented people who start with an advantage over others lose that advantage because they rest on their talent instead of raising it. They assume that talent alone will keep them out front. They don't realize the truth: if they merely wing it, others will soon fly past them.
"Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented from the successful one is a lot of hard work." —Stephen King, Author
Is talent enough?
Clearly, more than just talent is needed for anyone who wants to achieve success.
First you have talent, and second, you can improve it.
“Talent without initiative never reaches its potential. It’s like a caterpillar that won’t get into its cocoon. It will never transform, forever relegated to crawling on the ground, even though it had the potential to fly.†—Dr John C Maxwell, Beyond Talent
Come back next week as we start to look at what it takes to succeed. Can anyone be successful? Where does talent fit in? Do you have what it takes?