[Lunatyc]

Do you think a person is born with talent, or is it made by passion and hardwork? Is one more important than the other or are both required?
Give an honest answer, over being diplomatic.

[RoxanneToto]

I think hard work on its own can only take you so far when developing a skill, - while you can work hard at something, it won’t guarantee you’ll actually improve to a point where others consider you talented. I think the basic skills already have to be there and we know not everybody is wired the same. After all, some people can pick something up for the first time as an adult and find out they’re pretty good at it (a “natural” as some might say).

Imo, its made. People can be naturally good at something, but its the work behind it that makes you a genius / brilliant / talented.

[sarahsweets]

I think its both.

[*Beth*]

I believe that people are born with a talent, but it takes very hard work and persistence to make something useful happen. Above all else, it takes passion.

[possum220]

Born. You either have it or not. Having said that heaps of nurturing and lots of work are needed to hone it and be successful.

Some people are talented but do not have the tenacity and drive needed.

[Lunatyc]

I also think that you need to have people around you who spur you on to follow your dreams. Otherwise you will wonder who am I doing this for?

[IrisBloom]

Talent can be genetic, even inheritable. Some children show surprising talents at an early age when no one around them has taught them.
Sometimes needs to be developed but the basic ability is already there.

Learned talents are self taught or instructed. I would call these skills. Some skills can be mastered easily, while some have to work hard at it.

Either way can lead to excellence.

But there are some skills or talents that you can't master how hard you try. I'm 62 and have never been able to do a yo-yo. Lol

[divine1966]

Being born with ability and talent is an important first step, we can’t deny that. Not just hard work. I am tune deaf so I am not going to be opera singer even if I practiced all day every day. And if someone had IQ of 65, they aren’t going to get Nobel prize in physics. Having said that, of course hard work is needed. Sitting on your butt won’t get you far in life no matter if you have a talent or not

[ShaneG]

In short, both, if you don't keep up with it within practice the talent goes.

It is both. DNA and genes can make you musical. But if you don't take music classes, study with musicians, play an instrument, write music or listen to music to develop that natural talent, you will never become a musician.

Plenty of people "fake" their abilities. Hence, "fake it til you make it." And, because we need communities to thrive, you can lie your way to the top. Look at a lot of famous celebrities. They will disclose in interviews how much they lied to people in their industry, in order to seize opportunities for themselves to move into the spotlight.

[Marie123]

I think it is born. I was born with a love of dance (my mother and grandmother loved it), and I am a singer, poet and author. I think it might be inherited also; in my geneology there are singers, poets, dancers, etc.

[Soupe du jour]

I think both, but it takes a lot more work to develop talent without any natural tendency.

I've discovered talents, later in age, that I didn't seem to have when I was younger. I attribute some of that to life experiences, and obviously practice has been crucial. A change in my mentality over the years has also played a part. This is somewhat related to the life experiences. For example, I always thought I sucked at flower arranging, but when I became able to really give it the time and thought it needed, I found that I was quite good at it. It was certainly not a hobby for the old perpetually hypomanic/manic me.

When I was in high school, I attempted to take a creative writing class. I lasted only three lessons before I transferred to something else. I had a similar experience when, writing for the school's newspaper, the teacher asked that I write a creative piece about a sculpture on campus. I attempted, but became frustrated and asked to write about something else. Then, about 35 years later, I tried my hand at creative writing again, and found multiple inspirations. I was a much different person at that stage of my life (and now), then as a teen.

[Prycejosh1987]

I think talent is made, and surroundings reinforce that talent. Everyone is born and reacts and acts exactly the same as children and babies. I have never met a racist baby, or a baby that hates life. Etc. These things happen because of circumstances.