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'Path to success: Talent or Hard Work?'

In my opinion, I would say both; and it all depends on what your definition of "Success" is. Without question, it is very hard to advance your career without both Talent, and hard work.

I read an article about Tommy Emmanuel, (Australian Guitarist), in an edition of "Rolling Stones" magazine (sorry, can't find issue right now, a big no-no, I know, sorry folks), he went on to say that when he was a child, his father bought him a guitar for Christmas. The guitar was practically glued to his hands, and he would do his scales, (as boring as they are), day in day out, and clocked up a lot of time on the instrument. That is his explanation of his ability to play guitar in the manner that he does. It depends on how serious you are willing to go.

Success, or "climbing the Ladder", applies to almost all Jobs. I would like to demonstrate this using my own fathers career, working at the Pilot Station, based at Mooloolaba harbor on Queensland's Sunshine Coast (Eastern Side of Australia). As a perfect "real time" progression from the bottom rung of the ladder, to the top.

Things are a lot different now, but in "The good old days" (1970's) there were two 78ft Timber Built "Milkrafts", the "Matthew Flinders & the "John Oxley" (named after early Australian explorers), which were produced in Brisbane, and worth over 1.5 million. (In the 70's). In their time, they were state of the art, with every gadget you can imagine, even Radar! Their duties were to deploy and/or retrieve "Pilots" from massive Cargo Ships as they entered or exited Brisbane harbor.

While the harbor and its facilities were being developed, (it was deepened and modernized the harbor purely for these two Pilot Boats), my father ran several prawn (Shrimp) trawlers. It was a hard living, with long hours, and very difficult for a young family man of two children. (a 6 month old, and my sister 12 years older). My father was out at sea when my mothers water broke at aged 44. A very hard job.

As my sister and I grew, it became apparent that the family needed a regular income. Fishing was restricted and dictated by weather, as well as the "Luck of the draw" so Dad sold the Prawning Trawlers, got out of debt, paid part of his mortgage, and began looking for a regular paying job.

Keeping his ear close to the ground, and his finger on the pulse, he heard of a gardening job opening at the pilot Station, The Department Of Harbors and Marine. (Queensland Government Department).

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