by Ted Onulak

Created on: October 28, 2009   Last Updated: October 29, 2009

It may be said that you can get a lot further on a little talent and a lot of hard work rather than the other way around.

Talent is that innate ability to grasp or learn something more quickly than another. The degree and direction of this aptitude varies in each of us. In an environment where people are exposed to a great variety of things at a young age, people will gravitate to the things that come naturally and give them the most pleasure. But since these abilities are in all of us, this is certainly no guarantee of success.

Hard work is the great leveler of society. When one gets the notion to pursue their talents, success is a more obtainable goal. Depending on the amount of drive and talent, results will still greatly vary.

The loftiness of the goals you set will also determine the amount of hard work you will need to achieve success. Some great individuals may not have ever been able to achieve their goals in their lifetime, because of the magnitude of their own dreams. But these pioneers laid the invaluable groundwork for future generations to build upon and reach those seemingly unattainable heights.

This is easiest to see in the applied sciences like mathematics, medicine and engineering. Such areas produce tangible and quantitative results. These fields greatly depend on the scientific method, which demands rigorous experimentation and observation before a conclusion can be made. Indeed, most of the great scientific breakthroughs were made after numerous failed attempts. None of them would have been achieved without hard work and determination.

In the arts, it may not be so simple. Not only must the artist spend years in practice or otherwise developing his or her craft, but also they must capture the public imagination or the spirit of the times. Because a performer's art appears so effortless when it is done right, there is an illusion that it is only a question of talent. There are also years of trial and error, practice and mastery of one's own inner voice to create art of lasting beauty. Even though many look at a performer, whether musician, actor, writer or any other artist and think that they could do the same, just try it and you'll see how difficult it really is.

This is equally true in the realm of athletics. Not only does it take years of training, but dedication to keep your body and mind at its peak. The athlete is also racing against time, as there is a finite window granted to all of us in which to physically perform in that rigorous world of sports.

All of us possess certain gifts, some obvious and others untapped, but without hard work they may never be realized. Recognizing and nurturing our talents is perhaps the greatest gift we can give. The hard work needed to develop your talents is not just a selfish act to excel above all others, but to create things of beauty, worth and enjoyment for all.

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