--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Talent (a natural way of thinking…" description: "\"Talent (a natural way of thinking, feeling, or behaving) × Investment (time spent practicing, developing your skills, and building your knowledge base)..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/tom-rath-3501_ability_talent-a-natural-way-of-thinking-feeling_670212.jpg" --- # Talent (a natural way of thinking, feeling, or behaving) ×… ![“Talent (a natural way of thinking, feeling, or behaving) × Investment (time spent practicing, developing your skills, and building your knowledge base) = Strength (the ability to consistently provide near-perfect performance)” quote by Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/tom-rath-3501_ability_talent-a-natural-way-of-thinking-feeling_670212.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/tom-rath-3501_ability_talent-a-natural-way-of-thinking-feeling_670212.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/tom-rath-3501_ability_talent-a-natural-way-of-thinking-feeling_670212.jpg) > “Talent (a natural way of thinking, feeling, or behaving) × Investment (time spent practicing, developing your skills, and building your knowledge base) = Strength (the ability to consistently provide near-perfect performance)” [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Combining innate talent with deliberate practice creates reliable high performance. **In simple terms:** Talent plus practice yields strength. Key Takeaway Invest time to develop skills. Themes growth performance skill development mindset Mood motivational practical Type inspirational educational When to use this quote - career advancement - sports training - musical mastery - academic study Key Concepts Deliberate practice Self‑efficacy Talent theory Questions to Reflect On - What skill will you practice daily? - How to you balance natural ability with training? A Different Perspective Talent alone is insufficient without effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability Consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-consistently-644881/) [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistently/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Investment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investment/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Strength Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength-ability-291116/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talent Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent-natural-1509834/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time spent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-spent/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Way of thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-of-thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Mental Toughness: The ability to consistently perform toward the upper range of your talent and skill regardless of the competitive circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-loehr/mental-toughness-the-ability-to-consistently-perform-toward-the-upper/) [James E. Loehr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-loehr/) > [Work for the actor lies essentially in two areas: the ability to consistently create reality and the ability to express that reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strasberg/work-for-the-actor-lies-essentially-in-two-areas-the-ability-to/) [Lee Strasberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strasberg/) > [Effective leaders have the ability to consistently move themselves and others to action because they understand the “invisible forces” that shape us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/effective-leaders-have-the-ability-to-consistently-move-themselves/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Talent is natural. Excellence is choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/talent-is-natural-excellence-is-choice/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“His talent was as natural as the pattern that was made by the dust on a butterfly's wings. At one time he understood it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/his-talent-was-as-natural-as-the-pattern-that-was-made-by-the-dust-on-2/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Hard work will always overcome natural talent when natural talent does not work hard enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/hard-work-will-always-overcome-natural-talent-when-natural-talent/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [His talent was as natural as the pattern that was made by the dust on a butterfly's wings. At one time he understood it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/his-talent-was-as-natural-as-the-pattern-that-was-made-by-the-dust-on/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“Talent is natural but special inborn abilities”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-lucas-d-shallua/talent-is-natural-but-special-inborn-abilities/) [Dr. Lucas D. Shallua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-lucas-d-shallua/) > [Talent is a gift, but our character is a choice. Talent is natural ability, our gift from God, but we have the power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/talent-is-a-gift-but-our-character-is-a-choice-talent-is-natural/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [When you ask people about what they enjoy doing, time spent with the boss is even worse than time spent cleaning the house. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/when-you-ask-people-about-what-they-enjoy-doing-time-spent-with-the/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [“The acid test of a strength? The ability is a strength only if you can fathom yourself doing it repeatedly, happily, and successfully.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-clifton/the-acid-test-of-a-strength-the-ability-is-a-strength-only-if-you-can/) [Donald O. Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-clifton/) > [My strength was my ability to talk and my work in the ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/my-strength-was-my-ability-to-talk-and-my-work-in-the-ring/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [True strength is the ability to go through life each day accomplishing the impossible and doing what no one thought you could!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/true-strength-is-the-ability-to-go-through-life-each-day/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Strength is the ability to break up a solid piece of chocolate—and then eat just one of the pieces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/strength-is-the-ability-to-break-up-a-solid-piece-of-chocolate-and/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [Inner strength is ability to stand firm in storm of life with persistence, determination and courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-sinha/inner-strength-is-ability-to-stand-firm-in-storm-of-life-with/) [Anil Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-sinha/) ## More by Tom Rath > [Every day, I read about new ideas and research that could help someone I care about live a longer and healthier life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/every-day-i-read-about-new-ideas-and-research-that-could-help-someone/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I've seen people be effective, even among local teams, by offering something that improves wellbeing in a small way - people who get passionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-ve-seen-people-be-effective-even-among-local-teams-by-offering/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [“What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths - and can call on the right strength at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/what-great-leaders-have-in-common-is-that-each-truly-knows-his-or-her/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [If you want people to understand that you value their contributions and that they are important, the recognition and praise you provide must have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/if-you-want-people-to-understand-that-you-value-their-contributions/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [On average, spending time with your boss is consistently rated as the least pleasurable activity in a given day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/on-average-spending-time-with-your-boss-is-consistently-rated-as-the/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [“Once your brain initially processes something, you are less likely to retain the information if you are not physically active in the period following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/once-your-brain-initially-processes-something-you-are-less-likely-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I would absolutely recommend against excessive positivity and optimism. Any positive emotion that you're infusing into a workplace needs to be grounded in reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-would-absolutely-recommend-against-excessive-positivity-and/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [The vast knowledge we have to prevent cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses is staggering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-vast-knowledge-we-have-to-prevent-cancer-heart-disease-and-other/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Positive defaults protect you from yourself - and that helps you to make decisions in the moment that are better for your long-term interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/positive-defaults-protect-you-from-yourself-and-that-helps-you-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Making better choices takes work. There is a daily give and take, but it is worth the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/making-better-choices-takes-work-there-is-a-daily-give-and-take-but/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Having fewer unhealthy days and, in turn, more days when you have the energy to get things done is probably the global constant through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/having-fewer-unhealthy-days-and-in-turn-more-days-when-you-have-the/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [Even if people just change two or three things that they are able to sustain over time, it makes quite a difference eventually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/even-if-people-just-change-two-or-three-things-that-they-are-able-to/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [People with high levels of wellbeing have been careful to work out early in the morning and not to have heavy meals throughout the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/people-with-high-levels-of-wellbeing-have-been-careful-to-work-out/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [The absence of high-quality friendships is bad for your health, spirits, productivity, and longevity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/the-absence-of-high-quality-friendships-is-bad-for-your-health/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) > [I'm a researcher, so I'm realistic that there's nothing I'm doing that's going to prevent me from getting cancer in the future. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/i-m-a-researcher-so-i-m-realistic-that-there-s-nothing-i-m-doing-that/) [Tom Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) [Explore all 129 Tom Rath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Talent (a natural way of thinking, feeling, or behaving) × Investment (time spent practicing, developing your skills, and building your knowledge base) = Strength (the ability to consistently provide near-perfect performance)", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Rath" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/talent-a-natural-way-of-thinking-feeling-or-behaving-investment-time/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/talent-a-natural-way-of-thinking-feeling-or-behaving-investment-time/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/tom-rath-3501_ability_talent-a-natural-way-of-thinking-feeling_670212.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/tom-rath-3501_ability_talent-a-natural-way-of-thinking-feeling_670212.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/tom-rath-3501_ability_talent-a-natural-way-of-thinking-feeling_670212.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Talent (a natural way of thinking, feeling, or behaving) × Investment (time spent practicing, developing…” — Tom Rath", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tom Rath", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rath/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Talent (a natural way of thinking,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/talent-a-natural-way-of-thinking-feeling-or-behaving-investment-time/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rath/talent-a-natural-way-of-thinking-feeling-or-behaving-investment-time/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```