>>For lots of reasons, but particularly if you have children, I think you will gain a lot of insight from this book:
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>>Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else by Geoff Colvin
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>>http://tinyurl.com/befdnx
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>>Unlike what most of us believe, that talent is something we either have or not, it turns out that talent can actually be learned and developed, which will come as a surprise to many I'm sure. The author clearly explains and shows with extensive relevant research how it can be achieved and, amazingly, by most anyone. But the price for becoming truly talented, whether in sport, business, or any other field, is a high one.
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>Here a definition of talent I found online:
>1. A marked innate ability, as for artistic accomplishment.
>2. Natural endowment or ability of a superior quality.
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>Innate is inborn. Natural is also something one gets from nature. So, IMHO, the authors may be talking about skills. To me a talent is the same as a gift. You either have it or you don't. Skills can be developed, of course.
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>But I am sure the book is informative and good read.

According to the extensive research referenced and quoted in the book there is no evidence for natural, innate, talent. As an example, Tiger Woods plays as good as he does not because he was born with something special, physical or mental, but because he has put in tens of thousands of hours of focused and effectively directed training from a young age and under the guidance of expert and professional trainers, including his father. He admits this himself, by the way, and neither he nor his father ever claimed any natural talent that people so like to ascribe to him. Read the book, it may shock you :)