Last Updated on March 20, 2023 by Dave Schoenbeck
What impacts you and your business more — hard work or talent? Maybe you’re looking for the right words to motivate everyone. Below you’ll find hard work beats talent quotes and talent beats hard work quotes. 
Take what serves you and your business, then take a few minutes to think about the quotes that have impacted you most over the years.
It may be difficult for an aspiring entrepreneur to focus on the hard work, but it will prove bountiful. Read on for a bit of inspiration.
When Does Hard Work Beat Talent?
Consider this hard work beats talent quote from Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Inc., “If you look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.” So, what may seem quick and overnight is, in fact, the result of hours, months, and possibly years of hard work.
Consider this hard work beats talent quote from Stephen King, “Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” Talent is essentially free — it’s something you are good at. But, if it’s not expressed, honed, or worked at, it could disappear.
Why does hard work beat talent? One might argue hard work is the winner because it perseveres and pushes harder than the talented person that merely exists.
Working hard is a talent because persevering in the face of potential or guaranteed failure takes a specific character.
When Does Talent Beat Hard Work?
Talent is something innate that cannot be taught, necessarily. However, talent can be reinforced and perfected — consider Olympic-level and high-performing athletes.
Arthur Schopenhauer said, “Talent hits a target no one else can hit. Genius hits a target no one else can see.” In either case, the target is hit. If you work hard, you can become talented at hitting the target.
Again, talent is wasted if it isn’t honed and used with some frequency to promote mastery. Erica Jong has this talent beats hard work quote to share, “Everyone has talent. What’s rare is the courage to follow it to the dark places where it leads.” Imagine being the best in your field, and something comes so quickly to you, but you lack the courage to test the limits of your talent.
One might argue talent is wasted without the courage to put forth the effort.
What is Talent?
Talent is something that comes naturally to you without much effort. For example, consider people that can speak multiple languages, master all string instruments, or create various multi-million dollar companies. This is a skill. However, there is an element of hard work that comes with talent.
Talent beats hard work quotes are harder to come by since the two are linked to some degree. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.
5 Bonus Hard Work Beats Talent Quotes
Our list wouldn’t be complete without some leadership exemplars so we will leave you with the following hard work beats talent quotes to consider.
“With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable.” Thomas Foxwell Burton
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work.” Tim Notke
“I am who I am today because of the choices I made yesterday.” — Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the U.S.
“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” — Thomas Jefferson, American Founding Father.
“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” — Sam Ewing, author. As you can see, sometimes the only talent required is the ability to work hard. If you want more information about motivating your team to work hard, sign up for my weekly free business blog articles.
Coach Dave
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