Education Vs Talent - Which'll Grant Me Success In Life?

I’ve been hearing a lot of people discuss the above, wondering which brings success, happiness and money.

Every human that ever walked this earth was gifted. Everyone has a talent, everyone has a gift. Normally, our passion points towards our talents. 

Now, it isn’t unheard of that many do not realize their talent or reach their full potential during their sojourn on earth. A man once wisely said that the grave is the richest place as it holds the unrealized dreams of millions of human beings.

Whether we define success in terms of money amassed or in terms of the level of positive impact one has on the society, whatever your definition of success, there have been eternal debates concerning the key to success. There’s a school of thought that opines that one who concentrates on their education and excels, will step out successful in the world. 

The second school of thought posits that for one to be successful, one must discover one’s talents. They hold that every human is given a talent, and that the journey through this earth is for one to discover one’s talent, improve/develop it into a skill and use it to affect the world or part of it.

I once read an episode in Mafalda (Argentinian comic) and a girl was going around talking about her father’s wealth. She happened upon a rather smart boy, and after boasting about her father’s wealth (a businessman), she enquired of him the figure his father earned. The boy’s reply was “It doesn’t matter what our fathers earn. Compared with footballers, basketball players… they earn pittances”.

I’ve been listening to people debate this issue of ‘education vs talent’ for so long that it’s got me thinking too. Is that even the right question?

Well, I’d like to put in my two cents worth. I agree with the first school of thought that education is important. It could be one of the ways to hone our talents. I agree totally with the second school of thought that discovering one’s talent, developing it and using it to affect the world is the way to success and fulfillment in this world. 

King of Pop

Shall we consider Michael Jackson, whose talents for singing, dancing and choreography, led him to unimaginable heights. He is considered one of the greatest artistes of all time.

Let’s take one of our own, Fela. He didn’t attend school, yet he discovered his talent for singing relevantly and used that to affect Nigeria. The discovery of his talents spurred him to great heights.

Do we talk of Aliko Dangote? He was a school dropout. Discovering his talent, he dove into it and went on to make himself an important contributor to the Nigerian economy and the tummies of millions of Nigerians. 

Fela Durotoye

Cobhams

The list runs long with Fela Durotoye, our very own motivational speaker, who led the 'Mushin Makeover' 

Dare we forget Cobhams? It wasn’t his education in school that spurred him to fame, but the use of his talent in music.

This isn’t an article to dissuade you from pursuing your education. This article seeks to have you sit back, think about what you love to do. Go on a mission to discover your talent, if you haven’t. What do you enjoy doing? What comes very easy to you? What is it that death and only death can stop you from doing?  

It would be awful to spend these grueling hours in UNILAG, chasing after the wrong thing. If you are already in the wrong direction, have the bravery to stop and switch. Your happiness should be secondary to nothing! 

Education as opposed to talent, I hold that this matter should not be one of contention. Just as a lion is born with teeth for affecting his environment, we are born with talents with which to change our world. 

Education vs. talent? The real question is, ‘will you be among the men who used their talents, or will you be the one who kept his talent safely locked away throughout his days on Earth?’