Is it talent or environment

[blazeofglory]

If any one becomes successful all that we see is his dogged labour or unbeatable commitment. But we forget the circumstance or the kind of opportunity one has in life.

As a matter of fact all I see that people generally see that some people are geniuses and it is their sheer dedications.

But opportunities do not come to all, and those who have talents and perseverances can succeed in life and those who cannot will go extinct.

This is subject to debates.

[crystalmoonshin]

I believe that each person has his own talents. It's just that time and chance haven't been given to them to showcase these talents.

[subterranean]

I believe that each person has his own talents.
I don't think everyone has a talent. Talent for me is a skill or ability that is shaped and improved through learning. It's not something you were born with.

Back in university, I knew a guy who wrote short stories. He then published them with his own effort, made about hundred copies or something like that. Then he sold them, with his own effort too, to friends and peeps in our campus. I guess that was just his effort to create opportunity. But you got a point there, blaze. Not everyone has equal chance or opportunity. Yet somehow, I always think great talent will always be noticeable, either sooner or later.

[weltanschauung]

I don't think everyone has a talent. Talent for me is a skill or ability that is shaped and improved through learning. It's not something you were born with.

if a skill is something you improve through learning, then its something everyone has potentially.
if a monkey can learn how to play chess... anyone can be a genius. thing is, who wants to? and who is willing to devote a lifetime improving and practicing it? it seems really unlikely that some people would receive supra-natural "gifts"... its more likely that a few of us just take upon a challenge and never give up.

if something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing. you just stick that guitar in the closet next to your short wave radio, your karate outfit and your unicycle and we'll go inside and watch tv...
http://www.drumart.com/images/gallery/home/homers_brain.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNKoH84ioz0
;)

[subterranean]

Funny, and I like the accent. :)
Sure, there's potential in everything. A rock on the ground has potential to break your neighbour's window. Just need you to pick it and throw it. But to comment on the thread topic again, seems 'opportunity' is less mentioned when it comes to evaluating the success of someone. Maybe it has an equal share, maybe it has less thing to do with one success, but maybe some people just happened to be at the right time and the right place.