Talent is used as a label by someone who doesn't understand the practice involved in the given craft.

No one wakes up and paints a masterpiece. It takes years and years of hard work and studying to get to a point before you can even get close to masterpiece level.

But conversely, most people will never produce a masterpiece regardless of how long they spend at it.

The 2 aren’t mutually exclusive. You need talent and hard work to be “the best” in any given field. It doesn’t matter how hard I practice, I’m not going to be a world class sprinter or a world famous singer, my body isn’t built for it.

For some reason when it comes to physical limitations we accept it. But we reject it when it comes to mental capabilities. There are naturally smarter people, at least in specific areas.

People understand things they can see, like, someone is short, then, how good s/he can get at basketball is a bit limited (right). Or, someone having a body shape good for running, but won't lift much weights.

But mental capabilities are invisible, and then it's harder for many people to see that there are different and personal limits.

The capacity to practice is itself partially innate. Take a person with ADHD - they will naturally have a harder time practicing piano. I myself was unable to practice piano as a child, but for different reasons.

> Take a person with ADHD - they will naturally have a harder time practicing piano.

Or easier. Depending on how the hyperfocus-or-none dice roll for piano...