The word talent conjures up images of an elite individual, one with special, superior, even superhuman abilities. What they are capable of is beyond the grasp of most people. There’s a bit of a mystery to them, and it seems a lot of people would have it stay that way.

There are talented athletes, talented musicians, talented salespeople, talented investors, talented students, talented all kinds of stuff.

But isn’t what we generally refer to as talent really nothing more than a highly developed level of skill?

That would sound funny, though. You’re watching your favorite sports team and following a spectacular play by a spectacular player someone says “man that guy has a highly developed level of skill!”

It’s easier to say “he’s talented” or to conclude “he’s special.”

That is The Talent Myth.

People that subscribe to this myth may agree that more work, more practice, and more dedication can result in at least some improvement. But, alas, how good you can ultimately get at something is determined before you ever start.

You’re either born with it or you’re not.

You either possess the aptitude or you don’t.

And nothing you do to develop it is going to change that—at least not by much.

The Talent Myth is contained in each of the following statements. Ever heard any of them?

• “I just don’t have the brain for math.”
• “I don’t have a musical bone in my body.”
• “I was cursed with two left feet; I could never learn to dance.”
• “I don’t think I have the backbone to be a leader.”
• “I’m not very mechanically inclined.”

These statements reflect the view that where you’re at right now is where you were destined to be and will forever remain.

So then the process of developing skill is mostly misunderstood, and it’s mostly confused by the notion of inborn talent. In reality, achievement is simple for anyone willing to study and do something over and over again until they get it right.

Simple? Yes. Easy? No!

Which is why so many people in the world don’t have any level of skill that would earn them the label of “talented.” We want it easy, and as it turns out it is anything but.

Rare is the individual who just doesn’t care enough about the outcome of his or her life to want to work at it. It’s just that too many of those individuals are convinced that such work is futile…

…unless of course you’re talented.