Moffett 1

Kelcie Moffett

Mrs. Cramer

Comp. Pd. 2

28 Oct. 2018

Which is More Important: Talent or Hard-Work?

Michael Jordan once said, “I always believed that if you put in the work, the results will

come later on,” (Middleton 2). Talent and hard-work are equally important skills to ensure

success. Natural talent is something a person is born with. Because of that, there will be things

that come easier for some people that others would have to work hard for. Hard work is what a

person gives; what effort they offer above and beyond the usual expectation and the only thing

that will push performers to the furthest of their ability. What makes hard work truly difficult

isn’t even the performance itself. It becomes everything else that must be endured when someone

makes the decision to work hard to achieve their goals. Hard work takes disciplines, like

perseverance, mental toughness, physical endurance, and endless desire. While on the other

hand, natural talent is a gift that only some people are granted with. Even though natural talent

creates better performers on the surface, hard work is the key to success, and triumph is the

outcome of this working hard.

To begin, some people have more natural aptitude than others in certain areas of life.

Likewise, studies show that natural talent often creates better performers. For example, someone

who was born having a talent for basketball, and grew up playing every single day, is most likely
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going to excel more than someone who started playing halfway through high school. People

must also have passion for what they’re doing. Individuals are known to work harder if they

enjoy doing what they're doing, instead of doing it out of obligation. Individuals will see a

famous person pursue their profession such as play football, or sing and automatically think,

“Wow, they are truly gifted”. That might be true, but how do you think they got there? How did

they perfect their skill to the point they're at a professional level? They had to practice getting to

where they are, just like any goal to be achieved. People can be born with a “natural gift”, but to

maintain it, develop it, and advance, working hard is a must. An elite swimming coach states,

“Hard work beats talent until talent decides to work hard”, (Johnson 2). He says that achieving

top performances is a result of hours of training and hard work. Although some may be born with

the natural talent, everyone must work hard to show it off. Determination and perseverance are

two important attributes that can help one reach goals.

As a matter of fact, natural talent isn’t a requirement to be advanced. For example, grant-

winning performing artists are as skilled, as individuals who must prevail in business. If the

individual being referred to is youthful, they are particularly liable to be named along these lines.

The media is not occupied with diligent work, or how much effort is granted. Instead, our

general public now passes judgment on somebody based on their achievements and expect that

they should have natural blessings instead of the hardworking mindset (Batool). A good example

of someone who was born with no talent but made big things for himself would be Walt Disney

(Roderick 2). At a young as he was informed that he had “no unique thoughts” and needed

“creative energy” by the daily paper that let go him. Now look at him. He’s famous for all his

“unique thoughts” and “creative energy”. That didn’t come easy to him. He had to work for it

and put in a lot of effort. This story outlines that only one out of every individual finds quick
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achievement and acknowledgment. Talent will only get you so far, but hard work will give you a

wider range of opportunity. Someone who can perform all sorts of skills, will be chosen over

someone who can only do one efficiently. Being a hard worker will also give you a positive

reputation. People will recognize your dedication and effort, even if you're not as talented as

another performer. It’s diligent work and persistence that eventually pays off.

Talent is a quality that gives you a chance to achieve. Talent is useless unless it is mastered.

One should never sit on a couch and expect for a good result. Just because you have talent, doesn’t

mean you are more special than surrounding peers or should expect higher success. Whereas hard

work is more important than talent, because talent will only carry one so far. If the athlete is not

willing to put in the work to cultivate their talent, then the talent itself is essentially pointless. Hard

work and diligence will beat pure talent any day. Ultimately, if talent and hard work go hand in

hand it provides better results. If you are lucky to be born with the brains and a unique talent, you

will go a lot farther than someone with little to no motivation. Anyone can have an idea, vision, or

dream, but it takes that 99% working hard to make it closer to becoming a reality. Melissa Roderick

states, “Talent gives you a head start, but hard work makes you finish the race” (Roderick 4).

We’ve all heard the phrase “hard work is the key to success’, but sometimes, the talent overpowers

hard work for a more successful outcome.

In conclusion, hard work is the key to success in life whereas natural talent is a bonus and

the outcome of working hard. Michael Jordan a former NBA superstar, was born with a natural

talent for basketball. Michael Jordan went out to try for his high school team, but he was cut off.

He didn’t work hard enough the coach said. Michael was destroyed, and he never wanted to show

his face again after not making the team. He could've given up, but he didn’t. The next year he

made it and tons of college recruiters came to watch him. This is what led up to him going pro.
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Michael's improvement in a year didn’t just come magically. He put hours and hours into training

and doing anything it would take to ensure that he would make the team the next season. Always

strive to make a conscious effort to use all talent- and hard work in a systematic manner to get

better results. Talent is a word to acknowledge the hard work put into a specific skill. In fact, hard

work can be a more important “natural talent” than any type of God-given ability.
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Works Cited

Batool, Sidra. "Why Hard Work Is Better Than Talent." Bornrealist.com, Born Realist, 16 Mar.

2018, bornrealist.com/talent-or-hard-work/. Accessed 17 Sept. 2018.

Chris, Joseph. "Natural Talent Vs. Hard Work." Josephchris.com, Joseph Chris Partners

Executive Recruiting Search Firm, 13 Oct. 2015, www.josephchris.com/natural-talent-vs-

hard-work. Accessed 9 Sept. 2018.

Johnson, Micheal B., et al. "International Journal Of Sports Science & Coaching." “Hard Work

Beats Talent until Talent Decides to Work Hard”: Coaches' Perspectives regarding

Differentiating Elite and Non-Elite Swimmers, 1 Sept. 2008,

journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1260/174795408786238579. Accessed 18 Sept. 2018.

Mercer, Sarah. "A mindset for EFL: learners’ beliefs about the role of natural talent." Oup.com,

Oxford University Press, 1 Oct. 2010, academic.oup.com/eltj/article-

abstract/64/4/436/388495. Accessed 20 Sept. 2018.

Middleton, Yale. "75 Motivational Micheal Jordan Quotes. Addictedtosuccess.com, 14 Jan.

2016, addicted2success.com/quotes/

75-motivational-michael-jordan-quotes/. Accessed 13 Nov. 2018.

Roderick, Melissa, and Vanessa Coca. "From High School To The Future: Making Hard Work

Pay Off." Memberclicks.net, Consortium for Chicago School Research, Apr. 2009,

npeac.memberclicks.net/assets/roderick%20brief.pdf. Accessed 21 Sept. 2018.

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"What Is More Important- Talent Or Hard Work?" Inspiria.edu.in, Inspiria, 23 Feb. 2015,

inspiria.edu.in/important-talent-hardwork/. Accessed 20 Sept. 2018.