I chose this #tweet2paper for a very simple reason: I had just watched "A Bug's Life."
A major theme of the movie was that, while seemingly diminutive, a seed has the capacity to grow into something amazing and mighty. When I saw this tweet, by@ilovecolor, I immediately thought of that seed. (In the movie it was a tiny rock... and having a rock that represented a seed confused everyone who wasn't an ant... the whole thing was a mess... but that's besides the point.)
On its own, a seed lies dormant, never even beginning to grow toward its potential. Like the talents we are all born with, this seed has everything it needs to start. No more. No less. Some seeds are more likely to grow tall, some will produce trees with more leaves, some will make pinecones.
Some seeds will straight grow up to be rocks.
So how does hard work beat talent?
Simple. It's just human nature that some of us are born to grow taller, or have more leaves, or be naturally awesome at rocking out, but one who is putting in work has recognized their own talents and ambitions, will come up with a plan to nurture them, and execute with determination. If "raw talent" has been sitting dormant, not learning or growing, that individual has literally been left in the dust. Any advantage it once had is lost, as "hard work" has found ways to grow and surpass it.
I truly hope you've found your talent and are nurturing it. If you have- let me know, in the comments below, how you were inspired to nurture that talent, and where it's taken you!
If you haven't started yet, there's no time like the present! Just by starting to nurture that talent, you've got a new advantage over less decisive individuals. And hey- it's never too late. Some seeds wait thousands of years before germinating!