What if being naturally gifted wasn’t the secret to success? In this deeply personal and inspiring talk, a writer, marathon runner, and musician reflects on a life shaped by hard work, persistence, and an unshakeable belief in the power of learning. Through stories of childhood struggles, rejection letters, and transformative experiences, he challenges the myth of innate talent and reveals the real key to mastery: embracing the process of growth, one imperfect step at a time. Discover how reframing failure, pursuing relentless practice, and loving the journey can help you unlock your potential—whether or not you’re a “natural.”Ernesto Burden is the publisher of the New Hampshire Group publications at Yankee Publishing and rose through the media as a writer and digital technologist. The author of two novels, he is also a marathon runner and singer/guitarist. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Theater from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx