“A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.”
-Larry Bird
A surgeon doesn’t just intuitively know the human body and slice people open at 18. It takes years of study and testing to understand, and repetitive practice to develop the technique to operate and save lives.
A musician does not spring from the womb as Eddie Van Halen or Joshua Bell. Even Mozart practiced and studied and invested tens of thousands of hours early to develop his talents.
Every writer has had overflowing wastebaskets of crumpled paper.
Talent is just a raw capability, like intelligence or height. A tall person with no strength or coordination is merely a gangly freak good for reaching the top shelf or changing lightbulbs. It is through the work, the practice, the coaching that they develop the skills that can then be put to use and are of value.
Do the work. Then do more. Talent is everywhere but the refinement of it is rare. Be the one that creates something powerful of yourself and your potential that can have an impact in the world.