How often do we equate success with talent? All the time. But
the reality is, success isn’t created by talent alone. Just like we might see
immense talent squandered, we also see underdogs unexpectedly overachieve. Here
are 10 behaviors that we can always control that require zero talent yet have a
huge impact on our success.
1. Being on time. Punctuality
is a keystone habit that requires organization and planning ahead—both of which
lead to greater success. Here’s a good primer on
why being on time is important and how anyone can make it a habit.
2. Work ethic. This is the
discipline of showing up consistently and making the best decisions that lead
to peak performance. Even at the pinnacle of his career, basketball
superstar Kobe Bryant’s work ethic was
legendary. Kevin Durant recalls the message a veteran Kobe sent the younger
players at Olympic Trials back in 2008, just after Durant’s first year in the
league. The players were given a day off, but there was Kobe, the only veteran
getting on the bus to go work out at a high school gym. “He made 50 shots at
each spot around the 3-point line,” Durant recalls. “We just looked down there
and said, man, he’s the best player in the league and he took a bus to a high
school to get some work in. It’s that work ethic that Kobe embraced throughout
his career to become one of the all-time greats. As Kobe said after getting
drafted straight out of high school in 1996, “I don’t want (fans) to think I’m
just a high school kid coming in here thinking the world owes me something. I’m
going to go out there and I’m going to work.”
3. Effort. Few athletes worked
as hard as major league pitcher John Smoltz, who is now in the Baseball Hall of
Fame. As his agent, I saw him extend his career by years through sheer effort
and commitment. He made up his mind to make changes along the way, like going
from starter to closer, that kept him in the game as a valuable contributor to
his team. Effort is a mindset as much as it is a behavior.
4. Body language. How you
move and express yourself around others shapes who you are and how you are
perceived. Anyone can improve, and here’s a TED talk that
explains why and how.
5. Energy. Everyone has energy
to devote to a goal, and the decision of how much to give. Be conscious about where yours goes.
6. Attitude. It’s up to you
to keep going. No one
else can decide that. A great attitude maximizes the talent that you do have
and offsets what you lack.
7. Passion. Perhaps the single
most important way each one of us can suffocate the fear that
keeps us from peak performance.
8. Being coachable. Anyone
can become a better listener,
learn from feedback, and embrace the success of others.
9. Doing extra. Go the
extra mile. I saw it all the time with the athletes I worked with. The ones who
sustained their success were the ones who consistently worked at their craft
beyond what was required. That extra work and preparation fosters confidence.
We can all learn from this approach and exceed our own expectations.
10. Being prepared. Only
you can give yourself the time and space to be as ready as you can be. Make it
a habit, and you will make the most of your talent. There is great truth in the
saying: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.
Your Game Changer Takeaway
Remember that talent is never enough.
The best of the best don’t rest on what they were born with—they dig down to
get the most they can. Try these 10 things (or just one!) and over time it will
pay off.
Molly Fletcher
