What Makes Success? Education or Talent?

    So, what makes a person successful? Well, we know that there isn't just one thing rather a variety of things, education and talent, being two very important components.  However, is one more important than the other? I would imagine that different people would say different things based on their own personal experiences,  however, let's take a look at this from an objective standpoint.

      I'm going to start with education. Wikipedia defines education as “Education is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits. Educational methods include teaching, training, storytelling, discussion and directed research.” We live in a world today that education is extremely important if you want the best chance at success. I don't believe too many people would disagree with that statement.  That said,  let's not forget that the most suitable people in the world today don't have degrees from fancy schools or a bunch of letters after their names. Bill Gates, founder of Windows and now is so wealthy he only lives on 1% of his income, is a grade ten drop out. Now, I think most would agree that Mr. Gates is definitely an exception and not a rule, however,  education, formal education played absolutely no role in his success. Society nowadays looks at celebrities as though they are a higher type of human being or something. It is no doubt that they are very successful, and for the most part very educated. However,  what they lack in education they most often make up tenfold in talent.  

    Speaking of talent, Wikipedia defines talents as “a natural aptitude or skill.
"He possesses more talent than any other player” To look at this definition, most would automatically assume that you are either a person of talent or not, however, that is not true at all. We all possess our own talents, whether it be musical and that of what makes a celebrity or more modest talents such as the ability to work well with children or an understanding of accounting.

     So, which is more important…. Education or Talent? Of course, we are all different and based on our own personal experiences in life, some would say education while others would say talent.

   In my humble opinion, the secret to success is a combination of both, and this is why.  We all have at least one talent that sets us apart. One thing that we are exceptionally good at and we were born with it. Even if you can't play an instrument, aren't a star athlete or sing like Whitney Houston, does not mean we don't have talent with equal value. That said, like I said in the first paragraph, we live in a world that holds education in very  high esteem.  You can be amazing at teaching children but without that degree, you will never be hired as a teacher. It may not seem right when Mr. Doe, is a lousy teacher yet went to Teachers College, but that is the world we live in.  No matter how talented one may be, they need that education behind them to be qualified…. Or even taken seriously.  

   “Success happens when preparation and talent meets good timing.”

• Patricia Taylor (1955-2017)