> "it's not all natural talent, you must also work hard and persevere!" I understood this to mean that to achieve your full potential ( naturally given potent

> "it's not all natural talent, you must also work hard and persevere!" I understood this to mean that to achieve your full potential ( naturally given potential ), you have to work hard and persevere. A kenyan long distance runner might have a natural potential far greater than everyone else, but he still has to train to reach his natural potential. > Is the ability to work hard and the mental fortitude not to give up not also something dictated by our genetics? Genetics may predispose you to working harder and being mentally strong, but that's something you can change through hard work. You can't grow to be 7'5" like yao ming by working hard. You can't run as fast usain bolt by working hard. There are natural/genetic/physical limits. And there are natural predispositions. I'm not a geneticist or a biologist so take it with a grain of salt.