The Four Traits That Determine Your Success (And Why You Can't Fake Them)

Forget talent—focus on these four areas to reach your full potential

A harsh truth will shatter your world view.

A harsh truth is uncomfortable.

The first time you hear it you squirm knowing that you cannot delude yourself any longer. A few years back this was something I experienced when I read the line:

“What you produce does not have to make money, but it does have to benefit people.”

People don’t get hired to do a job because they are funny, smart, or creative. They get hired because they can provide value to the organization. A founder won’t see any success because they’re charismatic. All of the success comes from what you do with these qualities.

As Alec Baldwin said in his famous Glengarry Glen Ross speech, “Nice guy? Who gives a shit? If you want to work here, close.”¹ This harsh sentiment is often ignored because it’s unnerving to realize you have to earn whatever it is you want in life.

The internet has shifted the economic value of skills.²

The value of memorization continues to fall as information sits at everyone’s fingertips today. Generative AI is further causing once scarce skills to be democratized across the globe.