The "natural talent" myth

A few months ago, I had lunch with a founder who told me something wild.

His micro-SasS company is 18 months old, and he’s already crossed $150K in monthly revenue. No marketing experience. No business background. Just instinct and a bit of hustle.

And here's the interesting thing about overnight success stories like this: They’re rare!

But they also happen to be the ones we hear about most often. Because unusual stories make the headlines and get the clicks. They’re interesting because they’re uncommon.

I've spent the last six years around successful entrepreneurs, and I've noticed the most common entrepreneurial journeys mirror what you see in other fields that require dedication — like playing a musical instrument or learning a second language.

These learning curves tend to fall into four groups:

The first group is the entrepreneurs that seem to “get it” instantly. They get started, and everything just clicks. They understand markets, see opportunities, and execute from day one. They make it look easy.

Then there are the people who struggle endlessly without ever finding their rhythm. They'll read every book, attend all the webinars, and remain lost. Like someone trying to learn Spanish but never becoming even remotely conversational.

Then there’s the steady climbers group — folks who start out rough but keep showing up. They might take a decade to build something successful but get there through consistent effort and learning. These people make up most of the success stories you never hear about.

The last group? These folks buy the course, download Duolingo, or purchase a guitar. And they quit within weeks or months.

Because they love the idea but end up hating the daily practice.

Why Most People Are in the Fourth Group

I used to think most people quit because they lacked discipline, but now I know that's not the case. The real reason is simpler.

Most people quit because they’re chasing the wrong thing.

They want the end result (fluent Spanish, beautiful music, a successful business). But they don't actually enjoy the process of getting there.

I know this because I see it every day. People who pick a niche, throw up a website, write a few pieces of content, and don’t immediately find the freedom and income they expected. When I talk to these folks about their work, I can tell they’re not enjoying themselves. Some people even seem like they hate it.

And that doesn’t work out for long, of course. Because success comes from enjoying the daily practice enough to stick with it for a long time.

Sure, some "naturals" might find success faster. But they're rare. The exceptions to the norm.

The steady climbers fuel most success stories because they've learned to appreciate the journey — not just the idea of the outcome.

Just think about it: the most successful language learners I know don't just want to speak Spanish — they love learning Spanish. They love Spanish culture. They vacation in Spain.

And the best musicians don't just want to play music on a stage— they love practicing music. They join a band, listen to classic jams in their spare time, buy records, and join music communities.

The difference in enjoyment is obvious.

Finding Your Path

This matters because understanding which group you fall into changes everything about how you should approach business.

If you're not a natural, that's totally fine. Most successful entrepreneurs aren't.

But you should ask yourself: "Do I actually enjoy building a business? Or do I just crave having a successful business?"

Because if you don't enjoy the daily work — the problem-solving, the content creation, the customer conversations, the forever learning, and fixing problems — you'll probably end up in group four. And that's okay, too.

But it’s better to recognize which group you fall into early on than to spend years forcing yourself down the wrong path.

The Bottom Line

Your success in business (or music or language) isn't just about talent, persistence, or effort. It's about finding something you enjoy enough to practice for years, even when it's hard.

And maybe that's the real difference between the groups — not talent, but the ability to find joy in the practice itself.

So, before you start your next business venture, consider: "Am I excited about the next ten years of this? Or am I just excited about the idea of the end result?"

Your answer will tell you everything about which group you'll end up in.

And that’s all for today.

See you next Saturday.