Talent is a natural ability or skill... it's inbuilt and virtually everyone has one or more talent. Whereas, Hardwork on the other hand means a great deal of effort that is being exhibited in doing a thing.
There's a popular saying that goes thus; "hardwork beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."
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How true is this saying? let's see it from this perspective, someone that was told maybe by a pastor or prophet right from his tender age that in the future he will be a very great man, very rich and powerful, and now hearing this, he was just eating and sleeping all day long till he grew up and was expecting to get rich all of a sudden, there's a high probability that the person will end up being a beggar or will later turn to bandits and start looking for dangerous shortcuts to make it after wasting his precious time.
Comparing this to someone that was told that he would end up being a beggar in the future or possibly end up being very poor and wretched but hearing this he started working on himself day and night on how he'll be a better person, always looking for solutions to problems, that kind of person with his consistent hardwork might end up being a very rich and powerful man in the future and now being the boss of the so-called talented.
A hard-working individual tends to be more successful than an idle talented individual. Moreso, through hardwork one can also discover his/her talent.
For one to be great with one's talent or ability there's a room for effort/work. No matter how little or minute the effort might be, it's still something and it's better than not putting in any effort at all.
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In my own case I can say that am both talented and hard-working, I'll be sighting two examples which are; my music life and the aspect of information technology (I.T)
Right from my tender age, I love anything that's music related, you'll see me in church choir, school choir, choreography groups and all... within me I knew there's something called music, I have this inbuilt ever burning passion for music and so growing up I tried to develop myself and be more music inclined, I put in some hardwork in learning music; like voice training, learning of some musical instrument like drums, keyboard and guitar. My quest to know more about music has really helped me thus far, music has helped me to meet alot of great minds that I might not have access to without knowing music, it has also pave ways for me.
In the area of information technology, it also started from my young age, I love gadgets, computers etc... I do say to myself then that one day I will also be a computer professional. I worked toward it and now am enjoying life with my knowledge in I.T world. The interesting part is I learnt most things myself with little help from a tutor/professional.
I am sure that if I didn't work hard on what I see as talent in me, I will not end up being what I am today maybe I'll still be dreaming to be one. Our talents needs to be worked upon for it to be effective and meaningful.
Thanks for visiting my blog, I'll love to know your take on this in the comment section.