Talent or Hard Work?

[Geist X]

You need diligence in order to succeed. The most talented person in the world won't accomplish anything without any ambition. I know amazingly talented people who are total slackers, and as a result, they haven't accomplished anything.

[Eryngo]

They both go hand in hand at times. Some must go through Hard Work to achieve certain talents while others seem to be naturally talented and lazy... I would like to think I have both of those traits~

[Owminator]

I think luck is huge part of it too. Bill Gates may be a hard working talented man, but trust me, there are many people who could do just the same things at the same time he could. The reason for his unmet success? He was damn lucky.

Then again, wasting talent is really just a shame and hard work is most certainly required to take full use of your skills. But passion is probably the most important thing of all, if you love doing something and you keep doing it because you love it, you will likely become a lot better at it over time. Working hard for something and working hard for something because you love doing it are different events all along.

[Gossett-Mang]

Well, yeah, they're both vital.... once you are in the position, and good to have honed before you get there, but many times it really boil down to knowing somebody that can put in a word. In my family for instance, my brother, sister, and myself all have the jobs we have because other people were able to put in a good reference. Whether it be a friend, classmate, or a college professor. Other times sheer blind luck makes the difference. I mean, heck, Harrison Ford was farting around Hollywood for 9 years not making any headway before giving up and going into carpentry. Doing THAT led him into meeting and becoming friends with George Lucas, which in turn led to his career. Mel Gibson got cast in Mad Max because he was in a bar fight a few days beforehand. etc. etc.
Not to say that Hard Work AND Talent aren't invaluable, its just that that alone guarantees absolutely nothing. Heck, even with connections and luck nothing is guaranteed.

[Capo Mezzoforte]

I would say mostly talent, but also hard work. Sometimes people are just born with a talent for voice acting or just about anything. However, hard work is also important, cause sometimes the people without a talent, work hard just to be do what they are passionate about. I'm in the hard work category myself. I don't consider myself talented, but I work hard just to voice act.

[Torchy]

Well in my opinion relying on sheer talent won't get you anywhere its like having a ball of clay and not working on it and then calling it a masterpiece all things need Hard work to be achieved through history it has shown that (except the odd occasion). I mean I don't have any real talents (or I have not found them yet no idea) and with the Voice acting that I have started I have seriously thought about turning it into a career but because I have no talent (or not yet) I am going to have to work hard so this is why I think Hard work overcomes talent because talent need hard work to mould it into a ''Masterpiece'' Well of course I am only using myself as an example and I probably don't know what I am talking about but well I don't know -_- :3

[cunninghame]

Frankly speaking, I believe it depends upon where you are at. At times smart work is sufficient to earn you bread for long. But one thing that is certain is that no matter how much less you are paid, your hard work will always keep you the one who is in demand, and who would be welcome everywhere. However, learning and understanding how world works will only make a hardworking person even deliver better, and also become an inspiration for others!

[x3Ren]

It's usually preference. I'm talented but it doesn't mean I don't work hard. I do. Cause I know someone who work hard will eventually reach higher. Talent is more like a boost to learn quickly and such but by no means will you only need talent alone.

[Alectify]

To be honest I think it's a bit of both. I have a talent for writing - I'm not boasting or saying that I hadn't worked for years to improve, and am still striving for improvement in my writing today, but it's been a passion of mine ever since I was a young child. I was always writing tiny, short stories. But to bring out that gift I had to work hard. I wasn't taught in writing - all I did was write stories and novels and over time my grammar and spelling just naturally began to correct itself. It's difficult to explain - but if you have a talent or a natural gift you can't laze around and expect it to find you. To bring out your talents it's all about working hard and even then, we all continue to improve and make mistakes along the way. And if you want to reach success then there's even more hard work and talent required.
It's the same sort of thing with Voice Acting, I suppose. Granted it's not something everyone can do - but if someone has a talent for this sort of work, then they have to begin somewhere and work their way up. Everyone's born with a certain gift or talent - it's just up to you to find that calling and make the choice to work hard to bring it out.
That's my believe, anyway. o3o As someone stated above, it's really a matter of preference.

[monisstar]

^ I agree... I also believe, hard-work without a lot of talent can also go places... Hard-work, sheer determination and optimism are some of the greatest gifts that a person can possess.. Talent is only the building block for the many things to come.. If a person with immense amount of talent ( like, whatever they do, they do it perfectly), but no determination is a true and complete waste of talent.. It would mean nothing, if that person is not willing to take the first step towards using the god-given talent to some degree.. So, I really feel, if someone is not that talented, but is willing to move forward and work hard towards something, will never be denied success and self-satisfaction.