Is there a different limit to each individual’s skills and abilities?

Of course…this is evidenced by the ostensible limits to each individual’s skills and abilities…..lol! I’d like to become an astrophysicist, but the limitations of my brain just couldn’t handle that, so it’s better that I work with my more natural skills.

Of course there are.

Everyone has different levels and skill sets when it comes to learning.

While ‘practice makes perfect’ applies in many ways there is also, simply, certain limitations everyone must accept about themselves.

I always wanted to be a jockey, and at 5“4 and 117 lbs. in my 20’s I was still, almost too big. My average weight is naturally around 128–135, so to accomplish this I would have been a handicap rider or been in a constant state of anorexia to maintain the 110–115 lb. weight average.

No matter how much you wanted to be a prize fighter, if you are not heavyweight material you just are not. lol

Everyone also has a particular learning style, I learn best through analogy & metaphor, tell me a story that relates and I’ll really get it, fast! haha

I am intellectually quick, have a fast brain, endless ability to ad lib and make quick free associative connections that to some, are seemingly unrelated, creative to a fault, but…ask me to take apart a computer, clock or other mechanical object and put it together again and I am hopelessly out of my league.

Same goes with organized sports that require strong hand/eye coordination.

A fast pitch will find me knocked out and toothless. lol

We all have strengths and weaknesses and should never label others according to our perceptions.

You might be able to outdo me in one area, but I can probably slaughter you in another. :-)

I don’t think there are limits other than some physical and mental limits some are born too. But we all can learn to be what we desire if we want it bad enough. Does that mean Bob will be a NBA Player no things would have to fall in line for him to be one though if he puts his energys into that alone it would happen for him.

You might want to read The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. He believes that anyone can become an expert an anything if they practice it for 10,000 hours. He cites examples of successful people and why they succeeded. Of course, one is unlikely to spend 10,000 hours at something if one doesn’t have any ability or interest in it, but the book is compelling.

@janbb

Right, because the DESIRE has to really be intact.
Without interest there can be no desire and desire is what fuels motivation.

Even so, there are still limitations, regardless of practice.

Obviously people excel at what they love best so forcing mastery through thousands of hours is possible but certainly devoid of joy, which is what it’s all about. ;-)

He also discusses how the confluence of being in the right place at the right time and interest and ability facilitate genius and mastery.

Yes.

I don’t like to think of people having limitations. Rather, people have gifts. Some are given athletic ability; some are given music or art; some are given organization; some are given math; some are given people skills or the gift of gab… etc. We all have some ability in each, but some are given extraordinary ability in one or more. These are the people who become professional athletes, or renowned musicians or scientists. Then again, some people are just freakishly gifted… that’s right, I’m looking at you Da Vinci.

@GladysMensch So, how are these people given such gifts? Is it in their gene’s? Or are they developed as they learn and grow up?

@erichw1504

nature vs. nurture.
I think it is both, for the most part.

Yes of course. It doesn’t have to just be about physical fitness. Lots of other things come into play. Perception, reaction speed, quick thinking, understanding of game strategies, self-confidence, competitiveness, and probably loads more things that I can’t even think of.

I think that each individual’s maximum potential is genetic, but how far we rise within that potential is down to the environment; training, practise and support, possibly also limited by acquired disabilities.

@erichw1504 I think it’s mostly genetic. That’s not to say that people can’t better themselves with practice and study, but genetics will determine our maximums. I can train all day every day, and I still don’t believe I could ever run a 4.4/40, or throw a 90mph baseball. It’s just not in my genes. Conversely, I have perfect pitch. I never trained for it, it’s just there.

Fact from fiction, truth from diction. That is why I have always said you should not fill a kids head with the nonsense they can be anything they wanted if they just worked hard enough. Body mechanics can limit you in what achieve. Your friend who picked up on the tricks faster might have had an ability to figure out the landing or how to complete the aerials more efficiently. Those who are better at b-ball maybe they have a better eye and a better touch to make the long basket or better biometrics that allowed them to jump higher or smoother. Maybe one who excels at swimming are able to monitor their breath or hold it longer.

I believe it takes a combination of the right mental ability meeting the right physical attributes for the given sport or task. When it comes to doing trick on a bike, skateboard, ice skates, etc maybe those who go in it with little thought of crashing and injuries have a leg up because they only focus on the trick and not that they may crash and be injured on the landing.

I want to be an IT professional because I am taking the course, and it’s the only way for me to be successful, but it’s not the same with me wanting to paint or dance or play volleyball (for its own sake), which I don’t have to be successful and yet I find myself good at. Maybe there’s something about wanting it for yourself and wanting it just for it. Hahaha, Am I making sense?

It’s a combination of what sort of environment you grew up in, what you want out of life, your attitude, genes possibly, and how much work you are willing to put in. The truly great do have an advantage physically and mentally in whatever field it is, but they had to put in a lot of effort to get to where they are.