Talent matters. In any profession, you need to develop and build your technical skills. But too often, very talented people underestimate the importance of predictability. When the stakes are high or the mission is complex and requires cooperation among many different people, others need to have confidence that they can rely upon you to do your part. It’s a confidence rooted in their perception that your behavior will be predictable enough that they can trust that, to paraphrase the words of Dr. Dre, you will do what you’re supposed to do. What other traits or attributes do you think can help turn talent into success? Let’s jam about it.
I was lucky enough to be at BlackRock at the same time as you Frank. I would say adaptability can help turn talent into success. The ability to adjust to new situations, learn from experiences, change role, move country etc... Sometimes success can be seen as a linear process, when in fact you have to be extremely adaptable to ensure you're ready for the golden opportunities when they come.
100% - as i’m progressing through my career i’m realizing more and more that it’s not about all that you know, it’s about exuberating the confidence that you will be there and that people can count on you.
This is part of why so many potentially great creative leaders get overlooked; because, on the whole, how many creative teammates or departments have people worked with issues like delayed returns or varried results? Moreover, we expect creatives to deliver the unpredictable! So we apply that bubble of thought onto all, which makes it that much more difficult—and that much more critical—for creative talent to amplify consistency.
Absolutely. Reliability, adaptability, and effective communication skills are key traits for turning talent into success. What's your take on this?
This is interesting... It's challenging my perceptions of what it is to be 'predictable' in that I associate that word with being dull or boring; however, with the lens of accountability, I love it!
You have had a stellar career and are now truly at the pinnacle. Congratulations, Frank.
As Roger Federer said at his 2024 Commencement Address at Dartmouth: “Most of the times it’s not about having a gift it’s about having grit. In tennis a great forehand with sick racket head speed can be called talent. But in tennis, like in life, discipline is also a talent and so is patience” This really resonated with me because as you mention talent can take you so far and there are so many other important qualities each and every one of us has to work on. Sharing the link here for anyone who’s interested. He starts talking about talent 6 mins into the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqWUuYTcG-o
Talent is the foundation and behaviors are the ceiling that determines success.
Knowing you can count on people is key. I also have come to deeply appreciate resilience and I can tell you immediately who I think my most resilient colleagues are because I watch them for inspiration. As our careers progress, our jobs become harder, more complex and we navigate factors outside of our control. If you are pushing out of your comfort zone, it means you are probably not doing everything right the first time either. The ability to keep your fuel and fire burning through setbacks and complexity is a powerful asset to an org.