The popular, but flawed assumption throughout western society that you need to have ‘talent’ to reach the pinnacle of your field is an injustice that only serves to stifle progress in all fields. As author Stephen King accurately stated “Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” Sadly, talent has become so romanticized in many of our cultures that people mistakenly wear it like a badge of honor.

But as multiple studies have shown, the real correlation to success is not innate talent, but rather a combination of desire, hard work and perseverance. Not so long ago it was believed that only the most ‘talented’ people could master mathematics in the form of calculus, and even they would have to work for several decades to do it. Today calculus is taught to many high school students. It’s not because the students of today are more ‘talented’ in math, it’s just a matter of them working harder and being taught more efficiently now.

The simple reason why Asians dominate Americans in math and science has nothing to do with their talent for math or science. The difference is that Americans believe in ability and Asians believe in effort. The most common reason for failure in any endeavor is giving up too soon.

It stands to reason that if you believe you just don’t have the ‘talent’ for math, science or a given sport etc, you will give up too soon and never find out what you were capable of. Believing in effort causes people to do great things, many of which are beyond their wildest dreams. Believing in ‘talent, giftedness or ability’ gives people who do not have immediate success, an excuse to give up and look for something else to do.

Most readers are probably familiar with the 10,000 hour rule of mastery that Malcolm Gladwell popularized. One of my favorite researchers, Anders Ericsson, showed that in a study of violinist’s, not one person (regardless of their ‘talent’) reached elite status without 10,000 hours of practice. More interesting though, was the fact that every single person who worked hard and put in 10,000 hours DID in fact reach elite status.

In a separate corollary study on musicians that searched for traits that separated the successful from the unsuccessful musicians, the best single predictor was the simple question “how long do you think you will play?” The longer their answer to this question the more successful they were, regardless of their math skill, aural sensitivity, income or sense of rhythm.

I am of the firm belief that talent is not something we possess, but rather something that is developed by us through our efforts. As the talented* Nobel Prize winning physicist Albert Einstein said “I have no particular talent. I am merely inquisitive.” So if someone makes the mistake of calling you talented, be sure and point out how hard you worked to be perceived in that way. Remember, it always feels better to be praised for something you earned, than something that was given to you.

You can follow Sam on Twitter @SuperTaoInc

*= Said with tongue firmly in check.

Posted in The Mind Side Blog