Does "exploiting one's talents" mean "developing", or"applying" one's talents well?

[azhu]

I'm not sure about the meaning of "exploiting one's talents."

Does it mean:
1. to develop one's talents? Like, finding ways to become smarter?
Or,
2. to use one's own intelligence as much as possible to complete something, instead of aiming at enhancing his/her intelligence?

I hope my English is not confusing anyone...Please feel free to ask me to clarify if you find any sentence not clear enough! Thank you.

[bhaisahab]

I'm not sure about the meaning of "exploiting one's talents."

Does it mean:
1. to develop one's talents? Like, finding ways to become smarter?
Or,
2. to use one's own intelligence as much as possible to complete something, instead of aiming at enhancing his/her intelligence?

I hope my English is not confusing anyone...Please feel free to ask me to clarify if you find any sentence not clear enough! Thank you.

To exploit one's talents means to use one's existing talents to the full. That could of course include a talent for learning new skills.

[SoothingDave]

I think "exploiting one's talents" includes developing them and learning how to use them. You may be a gifted athlete, but if you do not put the time into practicing and learning, you will never become the star quarterback.

Likewise, you may have a talent for math and science, but if you don't study hard you won't become an engineer.

[azhu]

Thank you both, so exploiting one's talents means to make good use of and improving them.
That is more reasonable actually, because "using" your talents WILL "improve"them, too!