Talent is Overrated

I think talent is vastly overrated not only is talent imperfectly measured, not only is it an imperfect predictor of success, but also the traditional wisdom is wrong. It leaves out a factor that can compensate for low scores or greatly diminish the accomplishments of hightly talented people: explanatory style.

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I have come to think that the notion of potential without the notion of optimism has very little meaning.

(from Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman)