By Carmine Gallo, Forbes.com
Special to Online Career Tips
Early in my journalism career I noticed a curious pattern: spokespeople who said they were excellent on television nearly always turned out to be bombs while those who asked for tips on how to improve were always significantly better than average.
I noticed the same pattern when Lou Dobbs hired me as a financial journalist for CNN in New York. CEO’s, economists, and financial analysts who told me they didn’t need to prepare for the interview because “they do it all the time,” nearly always turned out to be long-winded, confusing, convoluted, and boring. They were rarely invited back. The best speakers would ask for advice before the interview and solicit feedback once the interview was over. They were often invited back.
What was going on?
I noticed the pattern again when I started my own communications firm. Those leaders who sought my counsel already had excellent presentation and public-speaking skills. I started writing books and, sure enough, the pattern emerged again. I remember getting a call from Ford CEO Alan Mulally. He had read one of my books on a plane flight and liked the techniques. “I’m honored, but if you don’t mind my asking, why would a CEO leading one of the greatest turnarounds in corporate history be interested in improving his speaking skills?” I asked Mulally. “I can always get better,” he said.
I can always get better. Those five words told me everything I needed to know. Successful people who have mastered a particular skill are never satisfied with the status quo. They always see room for improvement. Tiger Woods regained his no.1 ranking this week because he believes he can always get better, even after he wins a tournament! Woods once woke up at 2:30 a.m. on the morning of a round and worked on just one aspect of his swing in front of a mirror for four straight hours. He’s known on tour as the last guy to leave the putting green when the sun goes down.
The authors of The Art of Doing, Camille Sweeney and Josh Gosfield, interviewed “superachievers” in many fields to discover the secret behind their success. I recently talked to them about my own observation and they completely understood. They saw the same pattern themselves. “We found that superachievers have a sense of self-awareness and self-questioning,” said Gosfield. “Somebody could be incredibly talented, be at right place right time, persistent, and intelligent, but at some point everyone is confronted with failure and obstacles along the path. When that happened, they [superachievers] questioned their own assumptions and biases. They were able to reinvent themselves instead of making excuses.”
The authors interviewed David Chang, the award-winning chef/owner of the international restaurant brand Momofuku. According to Chang, “We constantly search for that beautiful ideal, that amazing dish. It’s so elusive, it’s something you’re never going to reach, but at the same time very rewarding.”
Chang’s advice—be humble. He says you can spend a lifetime learning to cook eggs. “When I ask a new cook, ‘How do you rate yourself? How are your knife skills?’ and he tells me they’re awesome, I know he’s not going to work out. He’s never going to learn.”
Chang’s observation reminds me of something I learned while researching the customer service practices at the Apple Retail Store. A hiring manager told me, “If a job candidate says, ‘I know everything about the Mac,’ he probably won’t be hired. If the candidate says, ‘I love the Mac, but there’s always something new I can learn,’ he’s much more likely to get a second interview.”
What really separates the best from the rest? The best believe there’s plenty of room for improvement in any skill they’re seeking to master: leadership, public speaking, customer service, sports, music, etc. Superachievers do what they do so well because they’re humble and they stay that way.
The Most Common Practices Of Super-Achievers
About the Author:
Carmine Gallo is the communications coach for the world’s most admired brands. He is a popular keynote speaker and author of several books, including the international bestsellers The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs and The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs. His new book, The Apple Experience, is the first book to reveal the secrets behind the stunning success of the Apple Retail Store. Carmine has recently launched an eLearning course titled, The New Rules of Persuasive Presentations. Follow Carmine on Facebook or Twitter.
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