Crude Oil Talent

As I was sitting in math class today, letting my mind wander, I came to the thought I absolutely must take guitar lessons within the next twelve months. This came after the realization that I have reached a plateau in my guitaring technique, and subsequently my creativity has come to a halt. While I don't understand the math I was supposed to be learning because of all this daydreaming, I now better understand the honing and use of natural talent.

Natural talent, the things that you are proficient at with no significant instruction, is like crude oil. Crude oil is what they draw straight out of the ground. At that stage it definitely has value (probably a bit more than it should, but the logic behind that is over my head). The value, though, is not based on what the crude oil is at that point, rather, it is valued for what it can become. Once it is processed and separated and refined we start to see it in it's practical uses; waxes, lubricants, various grades of fuel, and whatever the heck else they use it for. In the same manner, natural talent needs to be refined. You take what talent you have, filter out the sloppy habit, put guidelines on the things you do right, reinforce your knowledge when need, and add in some new skills. It's time to take my talent from crude oil to jet fuel (or at least regular unleaded gasoline).

50 points for reading it. 100 points if your talent has been refined, 75 if it's in the process. Subtract all of your points to zero if you have no desire to better yourself.

JOSH, THE SHERM