Natural Talent

[pen_grunt]

The things I become most in-awe of are things that people seem to be able to naturally do well--and that I have little-to-no chance of doing well myself.

The two examples that come to mind are singing and drawing. Either you can do these things well, or you can't. If you can't do them well there are certain ways to improve--but I would argue that someone with no natural drawing talent will never be a *great* drawer, or that someone with a marginal singing voice could not improve it to top-quality levels.

I have no skill at drawing whatsoever and I wish I did. I can *sculpt*, oddly enough, but two-dimensional objects give me problems. Something in my brain doesn't translate reality into a reasonable facsimile of reality through my hands.

Likewise, I'll never be a great singer. I like to sing and have a fair-to-middling voice. I have a decent ear for pitch and being on-tune. But my voice will never change substantially in quality. I'll never be able to effortlessly harmonize with someone else.

Maybe dancing also qualifies here; though I'm an okay dancer and I could do quite a bit better if I practiced more often, I don't think I have that natural ability.

Actually, probably most athletics qualify here. It's one reason why sportspeople get paid so much (justified or not). If you simply don't have the natural talent for it there's only so much you can do, and you'll only ever be able to achieve middling results.

Maybe having an ear for languages would be another thing? I think this can be altered by early exposure to language, though, so it doesn't necessarily qualify as "natural" talent.

I'm trying to think of natural talents that I have that are difficult to develop...though if they're a natural talent it's easy to overlook them or take them for granted. Writing, maybe? It seems that this is a skill that a lot of people *can* develop, however. I have an ear for language structure and linguistics that makes foreign languages slightly easier to learn--but it's not exceptional. Likewise, I have the ability to quickly write song parodies (very valuable...in very few situations!). I pick up new musical instruments fairly quickly when I put my mind to it...but I wouldn't classify the ability I *do* have as exceptional.

Whether any given natural talent is valuable or not is also really subjective. I admire organized, logistically-thorough people. I have very detail-oriented clients that admire my flexibility and creativity. I can never be them and they can never be me to the degree that we are ourselves. I can be more detail-oriented at the expense of creativity...but I'll never be as good as someone who is naturally that way. They can be somewhat creative, but it takes practice and mental shifting that they're not naturally inclined to do.

What else is a natural talent? That maybe someone can be taught, but teaching will only carry them so far?
Social skills? Extroversion? Patience?

What's your natural talent(s)?

Comments

[newlifeinstpaul.livejournal.com]

I admire organized, logistically-thorough people. I have very detail-oriented clients that admire my flexibility and creativity. I can never be them...

Yeah but thank the Diety of your Choosing for that. They don't get to see the world the way you do behind their organizational blinders.

I'm well aware I there are things I could do to sharpen my focus, but WHY?!?!? That's No Fun.

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

I'm well aware I there are things I could do to sharpen my focus, but WHY?!?!? That's No Fun.

That's definitely how I feel about lots of things I *could* be good at. I COULD do XYZ...but if I don't think I'd like XYZ--then what's the point? I'll just stick to admiring other people that can/do.

[patrickwonders.livejournal.com]

Me, I mostly subscribe to the 10,000 hours theory. I feel that there are some things one is more inclined toward or physically/mentally suited for, but that most of what really sets people apart is the amount of time they've put into something.

There are some things that I don't feel good enough at or enough affinity for. That's a somewhat self-reinforcing cycle as those feelings keep me from practicing. That, and how many 10,000 hour hobbies can one really have?

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

For the most part I agree with the theory. I was going to cite that I don't think that even 10,000 hours would give my sister the ability to recognize pitch, but hey--there might be a pill for that.

I would say that "natural talent" is only really useful in the beginning, and that it's definitely self-reinforcing. I.e. if someone has a nice voice they're probably inclined to *like* singing more (or they get continued positive reinforcement) and that leads to the practice that makes them truly exceptional.

[pointedthings.livejournal.com]

Ha! I agree. While 10,000 hours of work/practice will not impact my ability to recognize pitch, long island ice teas will!

[sacramentalist.livejournal.com]

I have none. Except maybe an obsessive focus on things I like. Am I drawn to things I like because it's a talent? I dunno.

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

That's sort of the conclusion I came to for myself, too. There are some things that I have a sort-of aptitude for and so I've developed those things, but am I drawn to it because it's a talent, or is it a talent because I've developed it?

[tediousandbrief.livejournal.com]

If worrying is a talent, I'm really good at it.

I'm sure I have some other, more positive ones, but I can't think of it off the top of my head. :(

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

You go be the best worrier you can be!

Actually, being worried about things can be an asset--if it causes you to think through a process or event and prepare for all possible outcomes.

[tediousandbrief.livejournal.com]

True! It can be. Unfortunately I'll start worrying about something like if someone likes me or if I'll be alone forever or if maybe I should be alone forever because I've really never dated much....and it just goes on and on from there.

[fontosaurus.livejournal.com]

I really had to struggle to think about my natural talents.

That I can tell, the two things that came insanely easy to me were language and shooting.

When everyone else toiled over English classes starting in elementary school, I breezed through them. In 7th grade, when tested, I read and wrote at the collegiate level. In college, most of my English papers were written at the absolute last minute and still got me A's.

In the army, when we started going to the rifle range in boot camp, it became very clear that I was very good at marksmanship, and I regularly was shooting 40 out of 40. This is a natural talent thing, I think -- you can teach someone to be a better shooter, of course, but there are certain "intangibles" that I don't think can be taught.

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

I'm inclined to think that a certain amount of language skill is the ability to know what "sounds right". I'm amazed when people speak or write in a way that is really, really bad, because can't they hear that it just doesn't SOUND right?

Part of this is exposure, sure, (and people can definitely improve) but I think having a natural ear for it is a big component.

[bertine.livejournal.com]

Singing and drawing are too things I am not good at and have never practiced because of. I agree with patrickwonders with the 10,000 hours thing. You can become an expert at anything with that many hours of practice but you are really only going to start something that you have a natural talent for because the beginning is hard.

I have a natural talent for organization and attention to detail. I am also good at verbal communication (better than written). I admire people that are flexible and "creative" because when I try to do that, it feels forced.

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

I dunno, I think you're pretty creative in a lot of ways.

I agree with the 10,000 hours/natural talent balance: that is to say that natural talent makes you more inclined to become an expert in the first place.

Who knows, maybe I could have been an artist after all--though I'm deeply, deeply skeptical. I think I'll just remain impressed with people who are naturally good at it. :)