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# Day 21: Most talent is effort
- URL: https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-21-most-talent-is-effort/
- Published: 2025-12-20T17:45:40.000Z
- Updated: 2025-12-20T17:45:39.000Z
- Description: Maybe try harder
- Author: Alicia McKay
- Tags: 🎄 24 Days of Unpopular Opinions

🎄

Welcome to [24 Days of Unpopular Opinions.](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/24-days/) In this series, enjoy an advent calendar of daily hot takes to help you get through the silly season.

You have a natural predisposition toward particular activities and skills. Plus, you'll have been rewarded for certain things early in your life. Maybe your family were big readers, or you were praised for your sporting prowess. 

But most of what looks like serious talent, especially in artists or athletes, is thousands of hours of effort over many years. 

If you're salty about your lack of talent, try consistent effort for a while - practising, learning, asking for help - and see what happens.

Merry Christmas.

P.S. If it's actually *success* you're looking for, that's different again. For that, you'll need the effort/luck combo. Talent optional.

---

### 🎄 About 24 Days of Unpopular Opinions

This December, I'm calling bullshit, to keep you sane over the silly season. Over 24 days, I'll share 24 unpopular opinions - like an advent calendar, but filled with controversy instead of chocolate. Share widely to whoever else needs this.

**Catch up on unpopular opinions you might have missed:**

[December 1: You don't have a strategy](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-1-2025/)

[December 2: CEOs are tiny babies](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-2-24-ceos-are-tiny-babies/)

[December 3: Women should be ugly and mean](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/women-should-be-ugly-and-mean/)

[December 4: Leaders are dry drunks](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-4-dry-drunk/)

[December 5: Conspiracy theorists are right](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-5-conspiracy-theorists)

[December 6: We should tell people to shut up](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-6-shut-up)

[December 7: We should lose our Internet privileges](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-7-internet)

[December 8: Self-help is a con](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-8-self-help/)

[December 9: There's no right answer](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-9-right-answer/)

[December 10: Play the power game](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-10-power-game)

[December 11: Email is evil](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-11-email-is-evil)

[December 12: Your list sucks](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-12-your-list-sucks)

[December 13: We need to talk about class](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-13-class)

[December 14: Kiwis don't work hard](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-14-work-hard)

[December 15: Boredom is good](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-15-boredom-is-good/)

[December 16: Money comes first](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-16-money-comes-first)

[December 17: You're not important](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-17-not-important)

[December 18: You're stuck with yourself](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-18-stuck-with-yourself)

[December 19: Find a partner early](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-19-partner-poll/)

[December 20: Spelling still matters](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-20-spelling-still-matters)

[December 21: Most talent is effort](https://www.aliciamckay.co.nz/day-21-most-talent-is-effort)

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