Talent Is Overrated: What It Really Takes to Become Exceptional | Geoff Colvin

What does it really take to become exceptional at what you do? This episode is an interview I conducted with Geoff Colvin, longtime Fortune editor, bestselling author, broadcaster, and one of the most respected voices in business journalism. Throughout his career, Geoff has interviewed and studied some of the world’s most successful business leaders—and in this conversation, he shares what he’s learned about developing excellence, recognizing the trends that really matter, communicating ideas that people remember, and learning from failure. We also talk about why great careers are often built one small step at a time, why deliberate practice matters more than simply putting in the hours, and why mentorship can play such a powerful role in helping us reach our potential. Geoff also shares one of my favorite frameworks from the interview for asking better questions: bring out the conflict, bring out the emotion, and bring out the personal. There is a lot of practical wisdom in this conversation for anyone trying to become better at their craft and discover what they’re truly capable of. Here’s my conversation with Geoff Colvin.