“Call in the inspired bard Demodocus.  God has given the man the gift of song.”

These words from the ancient Greek epic poem, the Odyssey, reference our long held belief about talent – the belief that super human performers enter the world with a predetermined gift.

We love to categorize the greats as inspired, gifted, divinely guided – talented.  After all, isn’t it a little easier to accept our own challenges to perform, when we can attribute the success of others to something so far from our control – like talent?

As Geoff Colvin’s work suggests, we should consider that talent might be overrated.

What about Mozart?  Composing at age 5, performing at 8, producing hundreds of works, many regarded as treasures that have proven to transcend time.  If that’s not talent, than what is?

How about Tiger?  Smashing records, changing the landscape of an entire sport, revolutionizing century old perceptions of what’s possible, before turning 23.

Consider this.

Mozart’s father, Leopold Mozart, was a famous composer in his own right.  He was also deeply interested in how music was taught to children.

His widely recognized book on violin instruction, published the same year Wolfgang was born, remained influential for decades.

Having begun intensive training at age 3, Mozart’s first work that was regarded as a masterpiece, his Piano Concerto No. 9, was composed at the age of 21.  Yes, an early age, but still, following 18 years of intensive training.

How about Tiger?  He too had the strong influence of a father with almost identical qualifications.  Woods’s father, Earl, was a teacher.   Combine his love for teaching children, and his obsession for golf, now the legend of Tiger makes more sense.

There’s more.  Considering Earl handed tiger over to professional instruction at 4 years old, and his first success on the international level was at the age of 19, as a member of the U.S. team in the Walker Cup, you now have 15 years of intensive training, before achieving measurable international success.

Warren Buffet?  He began learning about investing at 11, but didn’t achieve the status of world-class performer until over 20 years later.

Jerry Rice?  He only became great after years of his legendary six-day-a-week, six-hour, off-season workouts.

Henry Ford?  He didn’t build his first assembly line until age 55.

Dom Perignon was 60 when he corked his first bottle of champagne.

The point?  Talent, as we are so quick to prescribe, might just be the result of something else that has gone unseen.  What is that something else?

Practice.  Hours and hours of practice.

Dedication.  Unwavering, unshakable dedication.

Patience.  A willingness to accept that greatness is never an overnight deal.

The reality:  in your field, very few will be willing to practice, show dedication, and patience.  I guess they just don’t have … talent.

The upside:  if willing, being the best at what you do will only be a matter of time.