by June McGee

Created on: May 12, 2008

To begin to answer this question, what we really need to focus on here is the word, skill. Anything which can be properly called a "skill" has to be learned. How many times have you heard someone say that he/she has learned a new trade? Learned how to ride a bike? Learned how to drive a car? Learned how to use power tools? In each case, and many, many more possible, it is always "learned". The learning then can come by way of verbal teaching or with a text book and study. Whichever the case may be, a skill is something which is being taught and learned.

The learning of a skill is not always necessary in order for one to be called talented. Talent is a natural ability and many times is also an exceptional ability. This kind of ability is not, and cannot be, learned from a teacher or a book. A more colloquial expression would be, "He has the knack", and that is what a natural talent is, which sets it apart from a skill. People with a "knack" do become skillful but it is only because they also have a natural talent. I could say also that talent is many times in our genetic makeup, whereas a skill would not necessarily be so. Skill requires learning and practice while talent requires only the proper guidance. Talents are naturally acquired. We can have talents that involve being skillful at something and by way of skills are we able to uncover the exceptional abilities known as talents. In the final analysis, skills are what we have learned, i.e. in an Art Class. Talent is something that occurs naturally and cannot be taught or learned. We take on the leaning of skills to sharpen our natural talents or to learn to use our talents more accurately.

In my opinion, a person with skills will never be as good at any given task as a person who has a natural talent. I say this because natural ability has proven over and over again to be the better of the two. And it also stands to reason that something which was likely in you when you were born will always prove to be better, and more profitable, than a learned skill. One of the reasons for this is that with natural talent there also is a desire to see that talent fulfilled. It is not always like this for one who possesses a skill. We can get tired of what we do with learned skills, and many times this is the point where we start thinking about a career change. However, I have never known this to be the case with talents. It would seem that along with the natural talent there also comes a life long desire.

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