Relationship between Passion and Talent

Use this forum to discuss the January 2022 Philosophy Book of the Month, Emotional Intelligence At Work: A Personal Operating System for Career Success by Richard M Contino & Penelope J Holt
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Sushan
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Re: Relationship between Passion and Talent

Post by Sushan »

Sculptor1 wrote: January 26th, 2022, 7:26 am
LuckyR wrote: January 26th, 2022, 3:36 am
Sushan wrote: January 26th, 2022, 3:05 am
LuckyR wrote: January 11th, 2022, 2:58 am

But what is a "high level"? A proficient amateur is my definition. If you mean top 5% in the World, that is statistically impossible.
We do not see many famous, successful figures in the world. And those who remain there are included in your 5%. So it is practically impossible for all of us to reach there, I agree. But as per this author, if someone wishes to be in that 5%, and he/she is so passionate about that target, then the required talent will be there.
Didn't you just say that "it is practically impossible"? 100% of people can't be in the top 5%. The author has it backwards, if you have the talent to be in the top 10%, within that group of the talented, the top half (the top 5%) are going to be the most passionate among the top 10.
The statement is meaningless.
It is numerically impossible for 100% of the people to be in the top 5%, in the same way it is impossble for the top 5% to be the bottom 5%.
Reminds me of the moment that GW Bush learned with horror that approximately 50% of children were below average intelligence.
Yes, the statements are numerically wrong. But all these thoughts were generated due to the claim of the author for the connection between passion and talent. As per my understanding, if there is talent where enough amount of passion lies, then there should be a way for the 100% to be in the top 5%.
“There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers”

– William James
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LuckyR
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Re: Relationship between Passion and Talent

Post by LuckyR »

Sushan wrote: January 27th, 2022, 2:43 pm
Sculptor1 wrote: January 26th, 2022, 7:26 am
LuckyR wrote: January 26th, 2022, 3:36 am
Sushan wrote: January 26th, 2022, 3:05 am

We do not see many famous, successful figures in the world. And those who remain there are included in your 5%. So it is practically impossible for all of us to reach there, I agree. But as per this author, if someone wishes to be in that 5%, and he/she is so passionate about that target, then the required talent will be there.
Didn't you just say that "it is practically impossible"? 100% of people can't be in the top 5%. The author has it backwards, if you have the talent to be in the top 10%, within that group of the talented, the top half (the top 5%) are going to be the most passionate among the top 10.
The statement is meaningless.
It is numerically impossible for 100% of the people to be in the top 5%, in the same way it is impossble for the top 5% to be the bottom 5%.
Reminds me of the moment that GW Bush learned with horror that approximately 50% of children were below average intelligence.
Yes, the statements are numerically wrong. But all these thoughts were generated due to the claim of the author for the connection between passion and talent. As per my understanding, if there is talent where enough amount of passion lies, then there should be a way for the 100% to be in the top 5%.
That is a very big "if", but I agree it could be true... in different fields. This guy could be a top 5% dancer, that guy could be a top 5% singer, another basketball, another in poetry etc.
"As usual... it depends."
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Sushan
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Re: Relationship between Passion and Talent

Post by Sushan »

LuckyR wrote: January 28th, 2022, 4:10 am
Sushan wrote: January 27th, 2022, 2:43 pm
Sculptor1 wrote: January 26th, 2022, 7:26 am
LuckyR wrote: January 26th, 2022, 3:36 am

Didn't you just say that "it is practically impossible"? 100% of people can't be in the top 5%. The author has it backwards, if you have the talent to be in the top 10%, within that group of the talented, the top half (the top 5%) are going to be the most passionate among the top 10.
The statement is meaningless.
It is numerically impossible for 100% of the people to be in the top 5%, in the same way it is impossble for the top 5% to be the bottom 5%.
Reminds me of the moment that GW Bush learned with horror that approximately 50% of children were below average intelligence.
Yes, the statements are numerically wrong. But all these thoughts were generated due to the claim of the author for the connection between passion and talent. As per my understanding, if there is talent where enough amount of passion lies, then there should be a way for the 100% to be in the top 5%.
That is a very big "if", but I agree it could be true... in different fields. This guy could be a top 5% dancer, that guy could be a top 5% singer, another basketball, another in poetry etc.
I agree. When it comes to practical application, the number of opportunities becomes the most valuable factor than passion and talent. So, as you said, the 5% is practically possible only in different fields.
“There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers”

– William James
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