The Myth of Talent
Posted on | April 26, 2010 | 6 Comments
I had a life-changing exchange with a teacher, once. We were talking about pursuing our passions, our art. About spending our lives doing something we loved. I stood up in class and asked a question that had been burning in my heart for years: “What if I’m just not talented?”
He asked me, “What if you’re not?”
I thought about that for a moment. At first I got mad. How could he even suggest that? (I was young and logic didn’t enter in to it.) Then, as I considered more, I realized that it didn’t matter at all. And it hasn’t mattered ever since.
I’ve seen people who were truly talented who did nothing with their talent. I’ve seen people who had very little talent, but a lot of drive that sailed in their chosen profession. Over the few months after that conversation, I slowly removed that question from my mind. I did it by saying to myself that I had absolutely no talent, and that I was going to pursue art anyway. It eased a very heavy burden. A burden I’d been carrying a very long time.
I have worked hard over the years. I’ve developed my eye, my ear, my sensibilities. I’ve listened to words and read words and put words together. I’ve experimented and discovered what worked, what was effective, what wasn’t as effective. My love of words was more than enough to keep me moving forward and by moving forward, my love of words and their power and beauty grew. I have been told, by some who seem to know what they’re talking about, that I’m a good writer. If that is true, it’s not because I’m talented, or, if I am talented, because I’m more so than anyone else might be. Talent has little or nothing to do with the ability to combine words in such a way that they evoke a response.
I can use words well because I dream and I follow where my dreams lead.
The rest is just a lot of words.
~Geoff Hoff
Co-author of the how-to guide On Writing a Short Story.
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April 26th, 2010 @ 11:29 am
The world is full of people with very little discernible talent who have overcome that obstacle with tenacity.
I just read a true story about a man who heard a rumor that people could catch their food by running down an antelope (this was to prove a point about ancient hunters) and even though the prey was fast, the hunters were relentless. They didn’t need great speed, just endurance. he found what he was looking for and that story became part of a book, Born to Run by Chris McDougall. Good book, by the way.
.-= Rob Britt´s last blog ..Build Muscle Strength Through Yoga Exercises =-.
April 26th, 2010 @ 12:45 pm
Hi Geoff,
Whew! What a relief! Removing that fear and replacing it with “what if” (so what) is profound. Thanks for sharing this story! You do put words together quite well. I think of you as very talented and your work has paid off for the rest of us who read it.
.-= Deb Augur´s last blog ..XML Sitemap Generator for WordPress =-.
April 26th, 2010 @ 12:50 pm
Geoff,
It’s wonderful when someone is born with special talents. Take my daughter, Jamie, for example. She plays piano by ear and she’s a natural at every kind of artistic medium you can imagine. Blessed and fortunate young lady, right?
Not all of us are this lucky, myself included. I’m much better at “learning and mastering skills” – things that interest me, excite me, and get me out of first gear in the morning!
It’s rarely essential to possess talent. It’s absolutely essential to follow your passion – which is exactly what you’re doing!
Write On!
.-= Melanie Kissell´s last blog ..Teachable Moments From Silly Odds & Ends On My Desk =-.
April 26th, 2010 @ 10:09 pm
Hi Geoff,
I love that you dream and you follow your dreams.
It sounds like words and writing for you allow your dreams to manifest themselves on paper. I’ve been teaching grant writing since 1993, and I like to use grant writing as a tool that starts with “dreaming BIG” and allows people to manifest their dreams through grants. In my first grant, I got $2.5 million over 5 years to basically create the ideal job I wanted. I even got a grant to write my first book.
I’ve found tremendous power (and financial resources) as a result of writing and putting dreams into a fundable format.
I look forward to hearing more about your dreams!
Phil Johncock
The Grant Professor
http://TheFastestWayToGetGrants.com
April 27th, 2010 @ 10:45 am
Wow. Most of these comments from yesterday ended up in my spam filtering thingy. Good thing I always look and don’t just delete them all!
Rob, one of my favorite quotes is by Calvin Coolege, of all people:
”Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
Deb – I’m so glad my story assisted you in giving yourself permission. Yes, replacing fear is always powerful.
Melanie – how many people would have created how much wonderful stuff if they hadn’t worried about their talent or merit? Thanks!
April 28th, 2010 @ 1:02 pm
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