Curiosity vs. Talent: Why Enthusiasm Kicks Talent's Arse
Creativity. The glittering unicorn everyone wants to ride but ends up getting bucked off when reality shows up with its bills, deadlines, and smug little face. As someone who melts glass for a living (on purpose, not as part of an insurance scam), I’ve learned a thing or two about the creative process. Namely, that being curious and enthusiastic beats raw talent any day.
Let’s talk about this little quote that popped into my inbox today:
"If you're eager to learn—even if you aren't particularly talented—then you can make it a long way despite your shortcomings. But if you're not eager and curious, you'll find your natural abilities often fall short of what is required." - James Clear Atomic Habits
Let’s be honest: talent is overrated. Yes, it’s shiny and exciting, like finding a £20 note whilst meandering down the beach one day (true story). But curiosity? That’s the reliable friend who brings wine on a Tuesday morning because you're feeling sad (another true story).
The Myth of Talent...
Most of us are not born creative geniuses. I wasn’t cradling a glass cutter in one hand and a bottle of Sauvignon in the other at birth, ready to upcycle my first Bombay Sapphire Gin bobble masterpiece. Nosireebob, creativity is messy, awkward, and usually involves a lot of swearing. (Trust me, nothing humbles you faster than a fused glass project exploding in the kiln because you were pissed... er... didn’t programme the kiln properly.)
Natural talent might get you a head start, but it won’t keep you in the game. Why? Because talent doesn’t teach you how to fail spectacularly and then get back up, dust yourself off, and laugh about it over a cup of tea (or glass of gin... I need those bottles!).
Curiosity: The Real Deal
Curiosity is the secret sauce. It’s the thing that keeps you up at night Googling “how to stop glass cracking during annealing” instead of doom-scrolling on social media. It’s what makes you look at a gin bottle and think, “Can I turn this into a chandelier?” (Spoiler: yes, it's coming...)
When you’re curious, every challenge becomes an adventure. Can’t figure out a design? Experiment. Messed up a batch? Salvage it. Made a bowl that looks more like a squashed hedgehog? Call it abstract art and sell it for double. The point is, curiosity drives you to keep learning, and learning is what turns mediocrity into magic.
Overcoming the Shortcomings
We all have shortcomings (some more than others... you know who you are!). Maybe you’re not great at drawing. Maybe you have the attention span of a goldfish. Maybe your "studio" is also your kitchen, and you keep finding bits of glass in your cereal. Welcome to the club.
The good news is that curiosity doesn’t care about your flaws. It’s like your wine-fetching friend who loves you and it whispers, “What if we try this?” and nudges you to take risks... which usually involve bloodshed, but all artists suffer for their art... And every time you do (bleed out on the floor), you get a little better, a little braver, and a lot more capable (once your cuts have healed).
The Takeaway
So, what’s the moral of this rambling blog post? It’s this: stop worrying about how talented you are and start feeding your curiosity. Be eager to learn, try, fail, and laugh at yourself along the way. Embrace the mess, the challenges, and the weird, wonderful ideas that pop into your head at 3 a.m.
Because in the end, it’s not talent that makes you a creative powerhouse—it’s your ability to keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the magic of possibility. Now, go out there and make something amazing (even if it’s just a slightly lopsided bowl - not that I make those, obviously I'm way too talented... it's just abstract ;)