Talent does not equal success. I'm talking about long-term success. Without putting effort into your work, talent will only get you so far. Talent is just a piece of the puzzle. High-performing athletes who have achieved many things in their careers have a thing in common: grit—in other words, they persevere. Angela Duckworth, the author of the book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, says that grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. It's living life like it's a marathon, not a sprint. Having a talent for something can make someone lazy. If you are naturally smart you might not take school seriously because of boredom. Does that mean talent is useless? Of course not. It's important to teach those who are naturally good at something, and those who have to work a bit harder the importance of perseverance—the importance of grit. In Angela Duckworth's TED video she talks about having a growth mindset—the belief that one's ability to learn and grow is not fixed. It can change with effort and hard work. Having the right mindset is key. She also mentioned that kids are more likely to persevere failing when they read and learn about how the brain responds to challenges, changes, and growth. Thomas A. Edison says, "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration."
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