Innate "talent"

[happyroman]

I think that some people have a natural predisposition that may allow them to learn more quickly that others. Take for example, Josh Waitzkin, the young man whose story was featured in the excellent film, Searching for Bobby Fisher. Josh won national championships in chess during his teens, and then turned to martial arts, eventually winning world championships in Tai Chi. He believes that he was not necessarily exceptionally talented in either field, but had a tremendous ability to learn. His book, The Art of Learning is excellent, and a must read for anyone striving for excellence in their given field of endeavor.

Another excellent book on this subject is The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle, discusses recent discoveries in how the brain works, including understanding the importance of the development of a substance called Myelin. Myelin is s substance that forms around neural pathways that acts as a sort of insulator, resulting in the neural impulses being sent along those pathways to be stronger and travel more quickly. The analogy is that increased development of myelin in the brain turns what had been a "dial up" system into "high speed broadband."

Here are a couple of links for more info on these two books.

http://www.amazon.com/Talent-Code-Great ... 603&sr=1-1" target="_blank" target="_blank

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Learning-Jour ... 638&sr=1-1" target="_blank" target="_blank

[Rick Denney]

I can find no real evidence why we should believe someone of world-class ability when they say they have little talent. They say that because they want to be recognized for their own hard work, of course. And who can blame them? But to say they achieve world class ability by hard work alone also invalidates those who have worked hard and still not achieved such success. Yes, that includes people who have the talent necessary for their hard work to earn world-class achievements in more than one field.

Again: I doubt that Picasso painted more diligently than many other skilled, but not great painters. So, why did he excel when others didn't? Those who don't achieve that rank often blame it on luck or connections. But more likely, he had a vision and the drive to realize it, and for him, skill was not the goal but rather the means to achieving his goal. It's true at a lower level, too: There are those who have no training in art and can draw something that has life and movement, and others who have studied it extensively and still produce subjects that seem to be made from wood.

We hear that blame in a variety of forms. "Anyone who was at the audition could do the job fine--it was just this one guy who happened to impress that particular audition committee that day." If that's so, then why did Alan Baer win three (or was it four) auditions in a row a few years ago? Here's another one, "Success in art is just a matter of marketing." Marketing helps, of course, but it has to have something on which to build.

That something is probably more related to vision than to skill. Many pop singers are not necessarily all that skilled, but they have a vision of where they want to go that resonates with what people want to hear. There is something there that sets them apart, as much as those who are less successful might discount it. Is that vision talent? Partly at least--there are many with an abundance of skill who do not achieve greatness.

Also again: But we cannot know whether we are talented at something until we put some diligence into pursuing it. A well-educated person has diligently pursued a range of activities in search of their true talent. That's why well-educated people are often pretty good at a lot of things, and never seem to stop enjoying learning new things.

Rick "with many interests but limited talent" Denney

[Dylan King]

The spiritual dimension of inborn talent cannot be overlooked. King David was the most skillful musician on his time, talent given, and ordained by Almighty God.

Psalm 139:13
For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.