Grit versus Talent
Welcome to Module 3! Previously, you learned strategies for handling setbacks and keeping motivated to go after your goals. So now you have lots of tools for overcoming obstacles!
But let me ask you this question:
Would you rather be talented or be tough?
It’s an interesting question. The athletes and actors we see on TV seem to have a lot of talent, and many of them do. But having the resolve to continue under any circumstance can be much more valuable and can be applied to all areas of life.
In other words, your athletic ability won’t do anything to help you overcome obstacles in other areas. Developing your ability to persevere gives you one more advantage over challenges. Because of its importance in overcoming obstacles, this module discusses perseverance.
Talent has advantages, but is overrated:
1.Talent can make the journey easier. If you have talent for a particular area, such as music, you’ll have an easier time making progress. The journey is smoother and faster.
2.Talent is insufficient. Talent doesn’t eliminate the need for practice. Talent without practice is no more valuable than not having the talent in the first place. The athletes you see on TV have both talent and years of intense practice.
3.Talent isn’t a choice. You can’t choose to have a particular talent. You either have it or you don’t. Ideally, your interests and talents are in alignment.
4.Talent is only necessary at the highest levels. Can you be the world’s greatest pianist or golfer without talent? No. But you can make a good living playing the piano or playing golf without much talent provided you work hard enough and long enough.
There’s nothing wrong with being talented. The more talent, the better. But talent isn’t enough to ensure success. It only determines the extreme upper limits of your success. It also makes progress easier and faster.
See how grit can be enough to ensure success in all areas of life:
1.Grit is enough to achieve 99% of your goals. Forget about talent. If you have the ability to persist and maintain a positive attitude, you can be successful at almost anything.
2.Anyone can have grit. Grit is the result of a certain way of thinking and viewing the world. You can choose your beliefs and your thoughts. Therefore, you can have grit. Start today. Make yourself do something that you don’t want to do, like clean out your desk or purge your unneeded emails. Be tough and get it done.
3.Grit begets grit. Developing grit is like building your biceps. Your ability to demonstrate resolve grows with practice. Make yourself do something each day that’s unappealing.
4.Grit is calming. That might seem counterintuitive, but it’s true. When you have determination, you don’t have any choices to make. You simply keep moving forward. Constant self-questioning is stressful and exhausting. When you only have a single choice, life is simpler. Having too many choices creates anxiety.
Grit is among the most important attributes to possess. Grit can overcome a lack of talent in most situations. Unless you need to be in the top 0.25% of something, talent is irrelevant. It only makes the journey a little easier.
Grit versus talent, which is better? The amount of grit you possess is more relevant than the amount of talent you possess. Talent is nice to have. It’s like having a sports car instead of a new economy sedan. Both will take you to the same place. One just takes longer.
But all the talent in the world is useless if it isn’t applied diligently. The ability to persist during any challenge is the key to long-term success. Take control of your beliefs on success and your perspective on life. Believe that persistence is more important than talent. Hopefully, you have some of both. If you can only have one, grit is more useful.
Next time, you’ll learn 10 strategies to help you finish what you start.
Here’s what you need to do today:
●Pick one thing that you’ve been putting off, and do it now, while it’s fresh on your mind.
●Tomorrow, do one more thing that you’d rather not do.
●Start a habit of doing unwanted tasks quickly and as soon as you can.