After mentoring everyone from students to founders and CxOs for 20 years, I’ve learned something that still surprises people:
Talent is great. Until it makes you afraid to be a beginner.
I’ve seen the same two patterns come up again and again.
Type 1: High talent. Low patience for struggle.
They win early. So they start protecting that identity.
If a role doesn’t seem perfect, they hold back.
If there’s a chance they might fail, they avoid it.
And slowly, they stop growing because they don’t want to be seen trying.
Type 2: High hunger. Lots of practice.
They were often underestimated, so they learned to get comfortable with discomfort.
They ask for feedback even before they feel ready.
They try, make mistakes, learn, and try again.
And over time, they pass the “naturally talented.”
Here’s what I’ve seen firsthand:
Talent helps you start fast. Hunger helps you keep going.
Curiosity and resilience make a real difference over time.
Ego doesn’t help you grow.
For leaders:
Stop hiring for polished answers.
Start hiring for learning speed.
Look for:
- How they respond when they’re wrong
- How they handle feedback
- What they’re currently working on
- Evidence that they’ve grown or changed over time
Two interview questions I love:
- “Tell me about the hard feedback you got. What did you change?”
- “What’s a belief you were sure about, then changed your mind on?”
If you’re feeling stuck, ask yourself this:
Is your talent actually holding you back, or is it your desire to protect it?