When you want to do something, you need the talent to do it and the materials to do it with. If you want to build a house, you need wood, nails, and so on – but you also need your skills. If you want to write a song, you need a piano or guitar or whatever, maybe some paper or a recording device. But you can’t do it without the spark within you.
Raw materials can be left behind. A pile of wood or a piano can be inherited. But your talent dies with you. So while you’re here, spend more time using your talent than tracking down raw materials. The world can find more wood, but it can’t find more you once you’re gone.
The Opportunity Machine 