“I see the notion of talent as quite irrelevant. I see instead perseverance, application, industry, will, will, will, desire, desire, desire.” -Gordon Lish

Perhaps Lish was a talentless child, envying those around him who had talent in natural form. Some people are born into this world with the ability to carry out acts in a seemingly easy way. However, there are others who, no matter how hard they try, are unable to succeed. Lish may have been a troubled child…a wanna-be-over-achiever in school who, despite hard work, took two steps back for every one step forward. Yet Lish saw the potential in himself and in others who tried hard. My father would always tell me that nothing mattered as long as I try my best. This, of course, is not true, and was most likely intended to make me feel better about failing middle school math tests. No one cares how hard you try if you repeatedly fail. You may gain respect, but no elevated status. But, people who don’t try hard yet succeed obtain fame. Success comes from winning and everyone loves a winner but no one loves the one whose winning. If I was a dog I would be a Rhodesian Ridgeback and have a brother named Earl. Together, Earl and I would take to the forest and hunt tigers in-between classes. Chasing them from behind, we would trip up their hind legs and go straight for the throat. Our recently deceased tiger would make a nice fur coat or perhaps a tapestry to be hung on the wall. But I don’t agree with poaching for furs, I was just saying that if I was a dog, I would be a Rhodesian Ridgeback.