Natural Talent

You know, I'm a little bit tired of all the quotes I'm hearing along the lines of "all that matters is if you try. If you try, you will succeed. Period." Honestly, I'm not sure I completely agree with that.

Sure, dedication is good. Don't misconstrue my words.However, I feel that there is an undue emphasis placed on determination and perseverance.Sometimes, you need skill. Sometimes, you need talent. I say this, because I know some people are getting the idea that skill and ability (and, therefore, preparation) are meaningless.

I walk a fine line now. Doubtless, there are some readers who feel I hit the nail on the head, but there are likely others who feel like I am telling them not to try. That is quite the opposite of what I wish to convey. The emphasis placed on perseverance is often inside the proverbial ring. How often do we hear - really hear - about the dedication oustide the ring? We generally see it in the movies, but people have a way of blocking out what movies tell us. But think about who the most famous "dedicated" people, real or fictional, are. Who came to your mind? Rocky? Stephen Hawking?

Let's look at Stephen Hawking. Yes, he has ALS, which is a severe setback, and, yes, he did persevere through that. However, much of his dedication and perseverance was unrelated to his disease. He was born intelligent, and he cultivated his intelligence throughout his childhood, long before he became paralyzed.

I highly doubt the average Joe, stricken with ALS, would suddenly become a genius.

The notable exception to the "preparation breeds success" maxim is Harry Potter, and J.K. Rowling might be to blame. He was the Chosen One, yes, but did he take anyone up on the offer? Well, he became successful, or, at least, we attribute successful deeds to him. But what did he do? Take the first movie, for instance. How did Harry, Ron, and Hermione reach the end? Ron played the chess match; Hermione solved the subsequent puzzle. What was Harry's job? He went to the final room, where Professor Quirrell nearly killed him. That is the result of poor preparation and an overconfidence in one's own natural abilities - perseverance inside the ring. The only thing that saved Harry's life was a recurring series of lucky incidents in which every good wizard in the hemisphere suddenly realized that he needed help and came to his rescue.