Talent Or Hard Work, Which is More Important? Answered

Talent Or Hard Work, Which is More Important? Here in our world today lies an obsession for success and accomplishment. Anyone who has achieved something spectacular is either labelled “talented” or “gifted“. People are now judged based on their accomplishments, with the assumption that they were born with particular abilities, a situation exacerbated by the media. The media feeds us the myth that every successful person was born with extraordinary abilities or capabilities. Look at any headline praising a work of art, music, or another significant achievement, and you’ll almost certainly see the words “talented,” “gifted,” or a variant of these used. Where does hard work fit into all of this? Yes, you guessed it, the importance of effort is severely undermined.

This situation, therefore, begs the question: Which is more crucial for success: hard work or talent? To do this piece proper justice, I must first define the phrases “hard work,” “talent,” and “success.”

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Meaning of Talent

The Cambridge lexicon defines talent as “a natural ability to be good at something without having been taught.” and according to the Oxford Dictionary, it is an inherent propensity. Talent is a natural ability that can be acquired with little to no effort.

If someone can sketch well, for example, he or she could be a gifted artist. As a result, talent might be described as an innate quality. People often claim that they were “born with a gift.” Talented people can accomplish things without putting out the same effort as others.

Meaning of Hard Work

Hard work, on the other hand, lacks a clear definition. Because one individual’s idea of hard work may differ from another’s, it’s appropriate to employ variants on the definition of hard work to fit the person and the goal. Nonetheless, the Cambridge dictionary defines hardworking as “constantly putting  much effort and care in the performance of one’s work.” Hard work is defined as doing work daily, consistently, and with a lot of energy.

This work might be physical, cognitive, or emotional. Some could think of hard work as working around the clock, while others might think of it as putting in extra effort, while yet others might think of it as working nonstop. Whatever the reason for the hard work, the end goal is to attain success.

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Meaning of Success

Success, according to the Oxford lexicon, is the achievement of a goal or purpose. Success, like hard work, is something you must define for yourself; no one can define it for you. Success could imply a sense of giving back and making a difference in the world. It could indicate a sense of accomplishment and advancement in your job. It could mean being able to pursue your passions. It’s absolutely up to you to decide. In the definition of the phrase “success,” a one-size-fits-all approach is not possible.

Now that we’ve built the foundation, let’s take a closer look at our subject.

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Which is More Important between Talent Or Hard Work? Answered

Our society places much value on hard work and diligence. In fact, we are taught from a young age that if we work hard enough, we’ll achieve great success. Being talented, on the other hand, I would say is more like the cherry on the cake. You may inquire as to how. Talent doesn’t require a lot of effort to get things done because you have been bestowed with a natural ability to be good at that particular thing.  So even without working so hard, talent can help a person advance in life.

So, what happens if we mix talent with diligence? Will the combination of both attributes make them more powerful? The answer is “yes”. Phenomenal things tend to happen when talent and hard work are combined. This is in fact the ideal recipe for success.

Many people, on the other hand, wonder as to whether talent or hard work is more crucial in achieving success. Let me begin by highlighting a striking quote from one of history’s greatest intellectuals, Albert Einstein, who said, “Genius is one per cent talent and 99 per cent hard work.” Now, coming from a man of such intelligence and obvious talent, you might be taken aback for a moment, but if you take the time to read through his life biography, you’ll understand why.

Talent provides an individual with a distinct advantage. With the possession of such intrinsic aptitude, individuals can perform better and more effortlessly. Creativity and innovation are born out of talent. If you are talented in a particular area, you can easily capitalize on it. But there is a downside to talent. A person’s talent will only take them so far. We live in a real-world where you can’t rely on only talent to get you where you want to go. To progress, you will need to put in some effort (in the form of hard work) at some point.

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Hard work can help to nurture, enhance, and maximize your talents to entirely new levels. If one is gifted but does not put in the necessary effort, that talent will become obsolete; if not employed at all – those abilities will fade as naturally as they emerged in the first place. Irrespective of how talented an individual might be, the extent of one’s talent is totally undermined if you are not willing to put in the hard work needed to cultivate and improve that particular talent. Talent, as some would describe it, can be a meaningless trait if no effort is put in to nurture it. To excel in a particular line of career, even talented persons must practice and work hard so they can stand out.

Talent provides you with an upper – hand and a boost of confidence. Nonetheless, with a lot of effort, you can achieve your goals perfectly. In addition, hard work serves as a motivating factor in the development of talent. When someone works toward something they are naturally strong at, they work even harder since even the most difficult jobs appear to be much easier.

Talent, on its own, can be a driving factor, giving you that forward push but it is not the most important factor in achieving success. This notion is well supported by Kevin Durant’s comment, “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”

When it comes to obtaining success in business or other areas of life, hard work, drive, and perseverance are essential. It’s critical to emphasize that success is not defined exclusively by the talent you started with, but by how long, consistently, disciplined, and hard you worked on it from the beginning. You can’t rely just on aptitude to achieve your goals; you also need to put in the effort – which is necessary for life and the pursuit of all objectives and ambitions.

Yes, it is possible that whoever begins with a particular talent will find it easier to take the first steps and capitalize on this foundation. Talent, on the other hand, can be overcome at any time with hard work and determination in the long run.

Hard work does not make talent less useful; but, when talent is not honed by hard work, it becomes less useful. It’s worthwhile to put forth a little extra effort. When reading a success story, it’s crucial to look into the past of the individual who achieved that accomplishment. Even if they have talents, you’re likely to find plenty of proof of their hard work.

“It would not appear so wonderful if people realized how hard I had to work to get my mastery.” -Michelangelo.

Michelangelo was credited for his work in the Sistine Chapel. His famous comment demonstrated that, despite being known for his extraordinary talent, he worked hard to learn the art.

Many famous people, like Michelangelo, are thought to have achieved their enormous success as a result of their natural talents and abilities, but in reality, they spent years learning and growing to get to where they are now. Talent is valuable and beneficial, yet it is insufficient. But with hard work, this insufficiency can be augmented. Talent may give you the head start but hard work will assist you in reaching the finish line of success.

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Conclusion

There’s a whole lot to be said but I believe I have done justice to this topic. However, I feel that the best recipe for success is a combination of talent and hard work. Regardless, which do you believe is more crucial for success: hard work or Talent? Kindly drop your comments and contributions on this topic below.