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My views on "talent"
 

I want to preface this blog on what I think are the most necessary skills to possess if you want to be a pro gamer:

IN ORDER

• Work ethic
• Work efficiency
• Mindset
• Talent

Work ethic is without a doubt for me the most important part of being a pro gamer, being willing to put in huge hours without being distracted is instrumental to being the best player you can be.

Work efficiency is something that is often overlooked. It is overlooked by so many pros, and IMO it's because of laziness more than anything. If pros were older and more mature, and had worked a "proper" job before pursuing a career in esports, they would have better work efficiency. Work efficiency is about finding practice partners, and practising specific builds against them. It's when you're watching a tournament, and you're not just chilling out, you have a pen and paper in front of you copying the exact build timings and analysing why the player is making the moves that he is. It is, essentially, about turning the hours that you put into the game, into effective hours.

Mindset is something that is very hard to be taught, and requires a lot of diligence. Mindset is being able to ladder 30 games a day, lose 10 in a row, cool yourself and analyse why you've lost those 10 games, rather than just requeing. Mindset is about being able to leave your body, clear your mind and soul, and think rationally about your game-plan in the 5th game of a best of 5.

Talent is something I'm often very cynical about. Where does talent come into play? Is talent being able to have a good mindset? Is it about how quickly you learn? It's a very broad term. The reason I have an issue with the word talent is that it's often presumed that talent is something you're born with. I want to go over why I think talent isn't holding ANYBODY back from achieving greatness, especially in a sc2 competitive environment.


Why is talent the least important skill that I've mentioned?

I want to go over my experiences on the ladder. I believe that I'm someone with very little talent, I would consider myself average or maybe even below average in terms of how quickly I picked up sc2. I was stuck in diamond for a very long time. 8~months of pure grinding games.

When you're stuck in a league for a long time, your mindset can become very negative. I was repeating to myself. "You will never get masters, you just don't have enough talent". I was making an excuse for myself, it's not that I'm not putting in the effort, it's not that I'm not trying to improve, it's that I'm not "talented enough" I was born this way.

Guess what, since then I've hit GM. This is something I'll always be proud of.

How can someone with no talent achieve a league which so many strive for?

I'll tell you why, it's work ethic, work efficiency, and mentality.

TALENT IS NEVER A LIMITING FACTOR

That's right, you heard me, in big bold caps. I don't believe talent is EVER a limiting factor. Never tell yourself you won't get out of a league because you have a lack of talent. I think that's the cowards way out. If I see someone say "I quit sc2 because I lacked talent" I think to myself "Well he's just a loser".

Brutal, yes. True, yes.

There is no one progamer that has achieved perfection in all 4 areas. One pro-gamer like Stephano might have lots of talent, but lack work ethic. Guess what, a player who has half of Stephano's talent, but TWICE his work ethic and efficiency, will be the better player. This is something I strongly believe.

If you think that talent is the determining factor of becoming one of the top sc2 players on the planet, I disagree. Talent can be made up for with work ethic, work efficiency, and mentality.

This has been a super long rant, but It's a discussion that cropped up many times for me in Skype chats, and I felt like writing a blog about it.

Hope some people have found my rambling insightful :P.

Peace

SLCN Pezz

Re: My views on "talent"
 

Awesome perspective man. This idea of "talent never is never a limiting factor" is something that I can strongly agree on, because there is always potential, granted that individuals are willing to invest a huge amount of personal endeavor, for people to achieve greatness.

Re: My views on "talent"
 

Can't argue with this.

The real question to me is; does talent even exist at all? And imo, the answer changes based on what your own view or definition of talent is.

Re: My views on
 

'Talent' alone can only take you so far!

Even in our little community we've seen where #dedicaton can take you.

Re: My views on "talent"
 

Some say I was born to 11/11.

Re: My views on "talent"
 

"Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."

Calvin Coolidge

Re: My views on "talent"
 

I have the talent to not storm my own zealots

Re: My views on "talent"
 

I hear picking protoss is a talent in and of itself.

Re: My views on "talent"
 

pfft mindset is overrated

Re: My views on
 

BAD MINDSET BRO 1/10 COULD IMPROVE

Re: My views on
 

IT'S NOT THE MINDSET I BLAME DAVID KIM FOR ALL OF MY PROBLEMS

Re: My views on "talent"
 

Agree! Talent can only take people so far, whether it be for Starcraft or anything else. Its hard work combined with talent that really stands out.

When I refer to talent I mean people who automatically pick up the "skills" required to do certain things, with less effort than the majority of others. Most of the time its probably the result of some sort of exposure to said skills/area of expertise growing up.

Re: My views on "talent"
 

I think passion also plays are large part. People who are passionate about something are more likely to immerse themselves in it as it gives them pleasure. So it's also less of an effort for them to reach the pinnacle of their domain.

Re: My views on "talent"
 

That part about work efficiency.

Not to be confused with times where you don't do anything and say you'll do something efficient later, compared to just playing something during the off time. Compensate not playing with rest time only when you've already done something to deserve the break.

Re: My views on "talent"
 

The ability to have an work ethic is a talent in itself.

Mafia was talented because he could always dedicate his practice harder than anyone else could.

Re: My views on
 

I don't know, didn't you play for like 50 hours straight at one stage?

Re: My views on "talent"
 

That's not talent that's just being a retard.

Re: My views on
 

Light, 2014.

Re: My views on "talent"
 

Are you going pro Pezz?

Re: My views on
 

Nah I'm at uni and working atm so little time for sc2 :P.

"The ability to have an work ethic is a talent in itself.

Mafia was talented because he could always dedicate his practice harder than anyone else could."

Ray I think I included this in my OP. I'm talking about the talent that people are supposedly "born" with. A talent that you can't work towards. I'm fairly certain most would agree that you can improve work ethic and practice harder and harder.

Re: My views on
 

Your OP has a clear division between two constructs, which is different to what I said in my quote. We do agree on the cynicism towards "talent" as an indicator of how great you can become

My emphasis is not on being a pro-gamer or being good at the game. I suggest that people who work hard but have average "IQ" are more talented than those who are "smart" but don't work hard. This is not the traditional and more widely accepted definition of talent.

Being talented has always been seen as more desirable than trying-hard. I'm merely associating the hard-workers to a socially desirable word that has traditionally described intelligent people.

Re: My views on
 

I agree with you completely, it's the definition of talent as something you're bornwith and can't achieve that irks me.

Re: My views on "talent"
 

Talent is not a skill and should not be categorised as a skill. Talent IS something you are born with and can't achieve. However someone with less talent that works harder can surpass the 'skill' of a person with 'talent'. Being talented is a great help but if you don't work hard and utilise said talent then it's all for nothing. Working hard at something gives you more skill, not more talent. Talent is what you start with.

Example what Ray said about Mafia.
"Mafia was talented because he could always dedicate his practice harder than anyone else could"

I disagree and would say that,
"Mafia was skilled because he would always practice harder than anyone else would"

My biggest example would be comparing Mafia to Jak/Spider/Spidereight. Not many people now will know or remember him but he was far more 'talented' than Mafia, probably one of the most talented players ever from Aus. However he didn't work very hard at all and so eventually Mafia became more 'skilled'.

I agree with a lot of your points, especially about working hard being the most important thing, but i totally disagree with your views on talent. A lack of talent does not completely stop someone being good, but it will make it harder and mean they have to work extremely hard to be able to become 'good'.