Skill Trumps Talent

“I’m just not good enough to do …”

“I don’t feel prepared for …”

“I’m not ready to …”

“I don’t have enough experience in …”

I think we all have heard enough excuses to finish those sentences. Inherent in all those excuses is the perception of a talent deficiency. Fortunately, this world runs on skill, not talent. And skill can always be acquired. You may be born with talent in a certain area and a natural aptitude for a particular discipline. However, talent is no guarantee of skill.

And the reverse is also true, as a lack of inherent gifting doesn’t prevent you from developing skill. Although developing aptitude is far easier with natural talent, the latter is not a prerequisite of the former. No one is born with skill. It is honed. It is developed. It is purchased with countless hours of dedicated and deliberate practice. It is built upon failure, not favor. You are endowed with talents by your Creator. Skill you must pay for.

While it is great to have natural capability in something that is important to you, talent alone is not enough. True value and productivity require skill. And skill is birthed from effort, not talent.

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