Why It’s About Hard Work, Not Talent

One of my favorite quotes comes from Sir Francis Drake: Sic Parvis Magna. This roughly translates to “thus from small things, great things come,” or “from small beginnings, great things come,” or something similar. I find the translation the video game Uncharted uses succinct and apt: “Greatness from small beginnings.”

The thought that any one of us can have humble beginnings and grow into something, well, great is amazing!

So what does that have to do with hard work vs talent and the subsequent successes, rewards, and sweet, sweet accolades? Surprisingly, a lot.

Is it better to be hard working with modest talents […] or smart but lazy […]? The answer is cut and dried: hard work wins out. — Piers Steel, Ph.D

Straight from Psychology Today. Boom. Simple, right?

Then…why isn’t it so easy?

You know the answer. I know the answer.

Because hard work is hard.

Like the title of Dr. Steel’s article, “Hard Work Beats Talent Only If Talent Doesn’t Work Hard,” talent still has something to do with success.

But don’t be jealous or begrudge those who do have natural talent. Dr. Steel goes on to write:

“Those with natural aptitude and the willingness to put in the effort are as rare as diamonds, and twice as valuable. If you see one, take a picture, get an autograph, and wish them good luck.”

If you are talented in the field you’re passionate about, ask yourself this…

Am I giving my all?

Am I willing to put the effort in?

Or am I (unconsciously) skating by?

If you aren’t putting in the effort now, don’t worry. You can still turn it around and make your mark…

…but only if you put in the hard work.

Success is not an accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love for what you are doing or learning to do. — Pelé

Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento and best known Pelé, the superstar Brazilian footballer – soccer player for us U.S. heathens – who dominated the field from 1953-1977, Pelé pushed through poverty, injuries, and more to win countless games and three FIFA World Cups. He’s continued to talk about soccer worldwide and is a well-known humanitarian.

But what does this have to do with hard work vs talent?

Never in a million years would I say that Pelé did not have talent. It’s what got him noticed.

(See Doc Steel’s second quote above.)

His incredible drive and dedication, however, are what made him a world-renowned superstar.

(He didn’t start with fancy equipment or anything like that. He kicked around a sock filled with rags and still developed skill.)

See what comes first in his “secret” to success: Hard work. Everything after is a matter of practice and what you are willing to put in to make that practice count.

Even if that practice isn’t perfect to start with.

There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do. — Derek Jeter

I totally swear I am not actually a huge sports nuts (props if you are) – but in the industry of sweat and physical acumen, some seriously perfect quotes appear.

And it’s 100% true.

Derek Jeter played for 20 years for the New York Yankees and still has his hard work recognized. He still receives money for successes he achieved years ago during the height of his career.

Done right, hard work can be pay dividends.

(In more ways than one.)

Still, I’d like to add this caveat: You know your limits. But you also know your drive. Balancing the two isn’t easy – but most times when something isn’t easy, it’s the right thing to do. Hard work may not always pan out the way you expect or when you expect…but if you keep at it, hard work will always pay off.

Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door. — Coco Chanel

Speaking of limits, you have to know your limits and recognize them. Can you push your limits and expand them? Absolutely. Should you? Yes.

Do you also need to develop and hone the fine skill of OK-this-is-not-working-out? Yes.

Do not get discouraged.

Wanted to circle you back into the mindframe of positive mindset (more on mindsets in a sec) and about recognizing when something is a just not going to happen.

Keep in mind:

• Most times, it’s not your fault — unless you cataclysmically shot yourself in the foot (please don’t) or did not put the hard work and effort in (then of course it didn’t work; cake batter doesn’t become cake if you don’t put it in the oven).
• The needs and wants of the market versus what you may be offering right now may not align.
• The way you are presenting your skills may not be hitting the right note. (We can’t all hit Freddie Mercury’s high notes in “Bohemian Rhapsody” perfectly.)
• Maybe what you’re attempting to offer your market involves a skill you’ve yet to develop.

FACT: I don’t like to use the word “failure” very often. Like a lot of people, I get my mind whirling into sad sack gobbledygook which gets me nowhere fast except STUCK. Failure sounds so final even if it really isn’t.

I prefer to say “reframe”. It’s adaptive. Changeable. Easy to step back and learn from.

I think of a picture askew on the wall – easy fix. Even if the fix is lengthier and/or costlier, like having to completely re-mat and reframe an art piece, it’s relatively simple. If you can correct it yourself, do. If you can’t, then you find someone else you can.

I know, I know. Everything on paper is simple

Famed couturier and entrepreneur Coco Chanel completely altered the fashion industry. In a time when women still faced enormous prejudice, she made her mark. She worked hard to innovate. To fund her ideas. To cultivate a lucrative business. To think outside the box. To drive her industry (fashion) in a new—and profitable (for her)—direction.

Did Coco Chanel have failings? Absolutely. She also had regrets. She also knew when to take another approach. Parcast is currently running a 10-episode podcast called Great Women of Business and the Coco Chanel episode, which focuses on the art of branding, is definitely worth a listen.

Is it hard to reframe your thinking? Of course it is. But again – hard work and practice make all the difference. If it looks like something isn’t working, step back and decide if you’re actually approaching a yet-to-open door or banging your head against the wall.

Sometimes walls are painted to look like doors; sometimes doors are hidden along the walls. Long story short: Learn, and be observant.

Even geniuses work hard. — Carol S Dweck, Ph.D

Take this one as a comforting fact. Dr. Carol S Dweck spent enough time learning about and researching mindsets that she actually wrote a book on the subject. She also coined the terms “growth mindset” and “innate mindset” which writer Annie Murphy Paul quotes and defines in her article for a local offshoot of NPR’s Mindshift program.

“[Individuals] who believe in the power of effort to overcome challenges (what she calls a “growth mindset”) are more resilient and ultimately more successful than those who are convinced that ability is innate (the “fixed mindset”).”

Personally, I’m happy to know that.

While we all have moments of absolute eureka!-levels of brilliance…more often, we fall flat or fall short and just feel bad. Reflecting on the fact that some of the greatest minds in existence such Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, Ada Lovelace, or Hedy Lamarr all struggled and worked hard to do what they did certainly gives a confidence boost!

Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. [...] Talent doesn’t make you gritty. — Angela Lee Duckworth

Now you might be wondering, “What in the world is grit exactly and why is it in an article about hard work? And why doesn’t talent give you this ‘grit’ thing anyway?” And, of course, I’ll tell you. (Pinky promise.)

Grit, quite simply, is the stick-to-it-ness that – guess what? – comes from and is developed by hard work and the habit of hard work. In her TED talk, Angela Lee Duckworth begins by saying that she left a demanding management consulting job to instead teach math to seventh grade kids in the New York Public School System.

She noticed that some of her best performers were not her brightest while some of her brightest were some of her worst performers. Intrigued, she went back to school to study this mysterious X-factor.

She and a small team tested schools, companies, military academies, and more. Her results:

“[…] one characteristic emerged as a significant predictor of success. And it wasn’t social intelligence. It wasn’t good looks, physical health, and it wasn’t IQ. It was grit.”

Let me write that again: Grit – that is, hard work – made all the difference. She also adds:

“Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

Wow.

While Duckworth admits her research is ongoing, she also found Dr. Dweck’s growth mindset (as mentioned above) to potentially be one of the many sources for building grit.

I like that.

We are all building grit through hard work, determination, perseverance, and practice, practice, practice. (The ol’ “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” joke.)

More than talent, regardless of how talented one may be at a particular skill or skill set, what will always define the successful from the only-hopefuls is determined hard work for the long term.

If that sounds intimidating, consider this: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” It’s a famous quote by Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. Pretty similar to “greatness from small beginnings” in my humble opinion. Whichever version, the meaning is the same…

We all have to start somewhere.

The beginning, no matter how small, is a great place to start.

7-Point Quick Wrap Up

So while not as catchy as the Pokemon Rap, let’s review:

Better to be hard working with modest talents than to be lazy with a ton of talent.

Success is not an accident.

Love what you’re doing or learning to do.

Hard work often means sacrifice, perseverance, learning, studying, and adapting.

Someone may have more talent than you but there’s no reason for someone to work harder than you.

“Even geniuses work hard.” So no excuse for slacking off there!

Grit = passion and perseverance = stick-to-it-ness

So again, keep in mind—sic parvis magna. No matter what stage of life or career or success curve we’re on, we’re all novices about something we wish we were masters of – we are all at a small beginning at one point, at multiple times.

What are you working hard for right now? And what are you going to do to work hard towards that goal?

Originally posted on www.inkcatcopy.com