People often call sports teams or sports players "talented".
Example:
The Miami Heat have a lot of talent on their roster.
Or:
Sidney Crosby is a very talented hockey player.
But people also talk in terms of acquiring, developing, or fostering talent as well:
If you want to acquire great talent in something, be prepared to spend several years working on it. Researchers estimated that ten years is the amount of time that it usually takes to acquire talent.
Or:
If the goal is to develop markets start by developing talent. If you want to accomplish the most amazing things focus on developing the talent of amazing people. Mentoring and coaching are the most important leadership roles… If you want to attract the best talent develop a reputation as the best talent developer.
My Question:
Is it wrong to talk in terms of acquiring, developing, or fostering talent? When one does so, does it suggest that we can "learn" or "acquire" talents?
Best Answer
Talent is often referred to as an innate ability to succeed at a particular task but the word can also mean a specific learned skill or ability. Someone who is a talented potter is someone who excels at being a potter. While they may have a predisposition toward pottery the term is more referring to their ability to make the task look easy or simple.