Talent vs work ethic/determination

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>What would you guys say is more important and why? Sports and academics and careers.
There are obviously good arguements on both sides, so this should be a scintillating debate.</p>

<p>And what do you think you have?</p>

<p>I personally have talent and determination but crappy work ethic. Usually determination goes with talent but not in my case. I expect myself to be the best I can be, but I have trouble motivating myself.</p>

<p>Umm.. I think talent is the most important because it can help you get away with slacking.
On the other hand... Plenty of basketball talent in the jails.</p>

<p>Needless to say all three are needed to reach the pinnacle of success.</p>

2

<p>my coach says, 'hard work beats talent.' and i agree with that.</p>

3

<p>you need both talent and hard work if you really want to do well</p>

4

<p>Yea it just seems to me that there are more talented people who are leading nice upper mid middle class lives than hard workers.
It does seem comforting to be like "work hard and it'll pay off someday" but that's not always true. Of course not everyone with talent is doing okay.</p>

<p>Mcb52. You need both but what do you think is more important</p>

<p>Btw I mean sports and academics and careers</p>

5

<p>Talent alone probably isn't sufficient after the post-HS, or even post-college level...it may work in the beginning, but as you continue on, society is simply too complex to rely on sheer talent (e.g., obviously it's not about pure intelligence to land a successful job and succeed there).</p>

6

<p>That's true too. So I guess talents enough for college... But after that you need work ethic and determination.<br>
With just one of the three which one would get you the farthest?</p>

7

<p>^ you're grouping work ethic and determination separately?</p>

8

<p>However you want to group them. They're separate for me. I have determination but not work ethic.</p>

9

<p>How could you be determined but not willing to work hard?</p>

10

<p>I have no idea but I pull it off. Lol</p>

<p>For example I want a high sat score and am determined to get it. But I don't have the motivation to study more than two or three times max. If that make sense.</p>

11

<p>^ Doesn't that not count as determination but merely high hopes then?</p>

<p>The way I think of determination is that it's your ambition to reach a goal and willingness to work towards that goal.</p>

12

<p>Work ethic and determination by far. After a certain threshold of talent/skill/ability its the one who wants it most that will get a job/opportunity or whatever.</p>

13

<p>Could someone define what talent is and give examples?</p>

14

<p>Uhh talent is being really good at something.<br>
Like being a basketball stud without practicing.
Or being able to understand and remember math concepts the first time you hear them. </p>

<p>Pretty much you don't need to study or practice. It would definately make you better but you're still really good without it.</p>

15

<p>If I had to choose which is more important, I'd say talent.</p>

16

<p>there was one Frazz cartoon about learning to swim that said it really well <paraphrased>: Talent is the persistence and determination to put in work and effort to improve, not being born with giant feet and Phelps-like proportions.</paraphrased></p>

17

<p>I recommend you read the book "Outliers: the story of success" to understand a lot of thing contribute to a sucessful person.</p>

18

<p>Half the class in my classes have talent and Bs.
The other half has a work ethic and As.
If the talent half worked hard they would own the other half.
I semi-try and pull As.
So I'm in the middle. ;)</p>

19

<p>alumium boat: one of our cheers is 'hard work, pays off' lol</p>

<p>um, you need talent, yes but hard work is essential</p>

20

<p>"Some" talent with work ethic/determination over pure talent, itself. Potential is key to success, imo.</p>