This week’s quote comes to us from the great Steve Martin:
“Thankfully, persistence is a great substitute for talent”
“Thankfully, persistence is a great substitute for talent”
Steve Martin is a very famous actor, musician, but most importantly: comedian. This quote is his way of poking fun at himself, by implying that he was born without any talents. Whether or not that’s true, I don’t know; although I highly doubt it, because I believe each of us was born with something special. In any case, the quote is spot on!
Talent refers to things we are born with … they’re gifts. Some people have the gift of height or a beautiful voice; some are gifted in music while others are naturally good in sports. Some people seem to be predisposed for certain things at an early age while others struggle under similar conditions. Regardless of what the U.S. Constitution says, not all men are created equal. We all have our own unique DNA … and some are not even created men … they’re women!
What Steve Martin is telling us, is that even if we weren’t born with a specific talent, we can still achieve success as long as we persist.If we practice and improve, and we try and try again without giving up, we can achieve our goals.
Can we achieve the same level as those who were born with talent? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Sometimes we can achieve an even higher level!
People who persist have a stronger mental edge. They just won’t give up. Talent can only take a person so far, persistence is a key ingredient for success. If a person who was born with a talent doesn’t push him or herself, they won’t get very far compared with those who push themselves in order to develop a skill. If a person who was born with a gift, however keeps on pushing forward, he or she will keep on building on top of their talent.
Obviously there are some things that practice and perseverance won’t help us achieve. Try as I might, for example, I won’t get to be 7’ tall through practice. But if my goal is to play on the NBA, I can focus on improving other skills that will help me get there.
In conclusion, be thankful for the gifts you have, don’t worry about the ones you don’t; persevere, don’t give up and follow your dreams!
Suggested Tools for Drawing:
Note to Parents:
I hope you take a few moments to watch these videos with your kids. As a volunteer soccer coach for many years, I’ve seen how positive words can generate amazing results. The positive quotes I share are meant to spark a dialog between you and your kids. Take this opportunity to enhance the values I teach with your own personal experiences and point of view. Have fun with the doodles and encourage your kids to practice. Doodling increases creativity, moreover is a skill that they can build up and improve. I started doodling as a kid, and it propelled me into my career as a graphic and web designer, and now … Think Doodle Do. Who knows what our children’s future might bring, but learning a new positive skill is never a bad thing.
Don’t forget to visit our store to see the doodles that I teach on the videos as designs for t-shirts, wall art and more.
