Path to success: Talent or hard work

This is an interesting question to ponder on. Is it talent or hard work that leads to success? This is interesting because most never ask themselves this question; much less even think about the answer. It is also interesting because depending how you were brought up, you will probably think it?s one or the other. What I am about to propose to you may be a surprise or it may not be. I challenge you to put what I say to the test. See if what I say makes sense. Take it to the office and look around. See if the top performers in your company have what I say it takes and then see if you have what it takes. I bet that if you get what I am about to say and you apply it; you will change your pathway from getting by to the path of real success.

The answer to the question lies within two athletes that are well known in the football world. Their names are Jerry Rice and Joe Montana. Is it any surprise that both of these two players were on the same team for years and both are hall of fame material? They are the best of best in what they do. So what did Jerry rice and Joe Montana posses? Was it Talent or hard work? The answer is they had talent and they worked harder than anyone else. Broader than that, they worked smarter than anyone else and had more heart than anyone else also. When everyone else was done practicing, they were still going. There was no self pity in their mindset ever. They were not missing out on something else when they were practicing long hours. They were doing what it takes to climb to the top of their craft.

So where did they get their talent? Were they born with it? Is talent born or is it nurtured? I say it is realized and nurtured. I do not believe hall of fame quarter backs are born. They are put in a position for real work to happen and then it is decided if they will excel by what they do with it. If you buy into the fact that talent is born then you will just give up because you have no chance to ever becoming a hall of fame player. Repetition is paramount in talent. You must do it over and over and over again to cultivate your talent. You become an expert in what you do. You must study it and know it better than anyone. I have talked to so many people over the years who know so little about football. When they see a game they think that it is as simple as walking out there on that field and throwing a football. The truth is that football has so much to learn to it that it could be a college course as a prerequisite to even play. They hall of famers not only pass but they turn in extra credit assignments.

What about hard work? Is that something that is born in you? The answer is no. If you are lazy that was learned and not a gene. If you are a hard worker then you learned to be that also. Hard work is paramount to becoming what you want to be. You will not get anything great by being lazy in your craft. To rise to the top and gain hall of fame status you will need to work hard to get there.

Then there is that work smart idea that you will not be able to do until you have talent and you learn to work hard. You need to work smart and create your own luck. It is impossible to do this step until you have done the other two. Working smart and creating your own luck comes from developing your talent and working hard then using that information and strength to make calculated decisions and great moves. You learn to forecast others moves and what they will do before they occur. In the case of our famous quarter back, it makes him wiser to slide instead of taking a hit. He learns to scramble. He learns who is best for what. He learns he is a hall of fame quarter back.

If you take what I have said and evaluate your work life with it and implement what I am teaching you then you will rise to the top quickly. All too often, people just show up to work and collect a check from their job. This is fine if it makes you happy but if it doesn?t fill your life with what you are looking for then rise to the top or whatever level you want to be at. The path to success comes from what I have laid out for you. There are no other secrets to getting there. Create your talent, work hard and the work smart and create your own luck. I believe in you and know you too can be hall of fame material.

I get enjoyment from helping people achieve and learn. I have an interest in teaching the world something better than what we are learning now. I am an avid reader and writer and movie watcher. I hope I can shine a light in a dark world.