The majority of the article, �What It Takes to be Great,� is true in my opinion. However, I believe a lot of it is just plain common sense. Obviously, �practice makes perfect.� We have all learned this since we were little kids. The only way to become better in anything is through practice. It is also common sense to me that �deliberate practice� is the way to greatness. A pitcher can not achieve greatness by throwing thirty balls at a mat each day as hard as he can. That mat needs designated areas that the pitcher must hit with every throw. His speed for each pitch must be measured. His consistency needs to be documented. When he is not throwing the ball, he needs to be doing hand speed exercises and work outs that strengthen shoulder muscles. These �deliberate practice� routines are all very important to achieving greatness. The article is very correct in this respect. However, I also sensed a message from the article that natural talent is not important in achieving greatness. I do not agree with this whatsoever. As sad as it may be, I believe that if two men practice their hearts out equally, one of them will have more natural talent and skill, and this person will always perform better than the other so long as they have the same routine. The article attributed natural ability like this to genetics which I can definitely agree with. I have received many skills from my parents, especially from my father. My father is extremely good with his hands. He is a dental technician and works building teeth, dentures, and veneers. I believe that he is one of the best in a dying field. He has amazing control over his hands when he is working with such tiny objects such as teeth. His talents not only relate to teeth though. He is very good with construction as well and these talents I hope and believe have passed on to me. I have worked with teeth as well to help him and I have been very involved in art since I was young. When I was thirteen years old, I helped him to build a shed in our backyard. I believe things like this come so easily to me because I have him as a father. If I were to work hard in the field my father is in, I think I would have a great advantage over others solely because I am his son. So as much as I agree that �deliberate practice� is very important in achieving greatness, natural talent is just as important to me.
