Talent vs. Grit

Would you rather have all the talent in the world or be as tough as nails? It’s a question that’s been on my mind lately. I often wonder if the people our culture puts on a pedestal got there by sheer grit. What if we all pushed ourselves to the limit? What if we could continue to fight for our goals under any circumstance?  Is talent or grit better?  

Why do we value talent?

1. Real talent is only necessary at the highest levels. Our culture is obsessed with “the best in the world.” Sports journals argue over who the best athletes are, and music awards glorify the best artists. There is no denying that to be an athlete like Gabby Douglas or to sing like Adele; you need talent. Although, very few individuals on the planet will ever get to that level, and it’s ok. Even though we won’t win a gold medal or a grammy, we can still work hard pursuing our passions.    
2. Talent isn’t a choice. You can’t choose to have a particular talent. You either have it, or you don’t. It’s just a plus when your passions and talents line-up. I’ll never forget two kids on my wrestling team in high school. One had unbelievable raw talent. The other had tremendous grit. The one with talent didn’t even come close to working as hard as the one with grit. At the end of the season, the one that had less talent but determination ended up winning the state championship. The talented individual lost. It was beyond frustrating watching someone so talented take his skills for granted. 
3. Talent is not good enough. Have you ever met a talented person that didn’t care? It’s frustrating, isn’t it? I know someone who is phenomenal at interpersonal communication skills and could be an incredible interviewer. Instead of honing his skills, he works a job that he hates. I feel like this person has the potential to be an excellent reporter, but is letting his talent go to waste.     

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being talented and born with the capacity to do something that most can’t. Although, the more talent you have, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have a significant impact on the world around you. Those talents could end up going to waste. Grit, on the other hand, is different. The power of grit can be seen in our world in many ways.  

Grit can help you achieve your goals: 

1. Grit leads to more grit. Once you bite the bullet and decide to grind it out day in and day out, you’ll develop the habit of pushing yourself. 
2. Grit comes from our heart and brain, not our bodies. You don’t need to look a certain way or have physical strength to have grit. I know some people who are strong in the gym, but they’re pansies when it comes to psychological grit. Then I know people like my neighbor, Jim, who had a double hip replacement while battling cancer and won. He never lost hope, and even while he was going through hell, he was the nicest guy. Jim chose positive thoughts and kept fighting. We can all dig deeper and show more grit in our life.  
3. Grit can empower us to hit most of our goals. Forget about talent! Seriously, it’s completely overrated. If you have the guts to fight day after day for what you want, you can be successful at anything you put your mind to. I’m always reminded of this while watching my 5-year-old. He does the most unbelievable things since no one tells him he can’t. A few months back, he worked hard on a comedy routine and then did a show in front of 150 people. He’s 5! When he puts his mind to something, it gets done.   

Grit is one of the best attributes on the planet to possess. In fact, instead of companies trying to figure out what kind of skills people have, they should assess grit. 

So, lets put this whole talent vs. grit thing to rest. Grit wins every day of the week. The amount of grit that you possess is way more important than talent!