| I recently watched Brian Williams, the Channel 4 | | | | everything you can about your chosen subject. If |
| news anchor, discuss what he called "the DNA of the | | | | you truly love it, it won't seem like work. That will |
| athletes" during a break in the Winter Olympics. He | | | | make the next step manageable. |
| said people who competed in dangerous sports, | | | | Spend at least 10,000 hours perfecting your skills |
| whether in the Olympics or NASCAR racing, shared | | | | in your chosen field. If you are going to lead people |
| similar qualities. These athletes were energized by the | | | | you need to know your field from top to bottom. |
| challenge: the riskier the better, the more seemingly | | | | Yes, that takes years, but what else are you doing |
| unattainable, and the harder they trained. Further, | | | | that's more important? |
| Williams said it was in their DNA and they are not like | | | | Surround yourself with smart people. All of |
| us, aka "normal people." | | | | Gates' early influences were teachers and friends |
| So I started wondering about the DNA of successful | | | | who had the same, or greater, passion and |
| leaders. Did they have ingrained traits that enabled | | | | intelligence. |
| them to achieve their goals and grow their | | | | Listen, read and learn from role models who |
| enterprises faster and farther than their peers? | | | | have gone before you. Don't be afraid to approach |
| It sure seemed so. What, for instance, did Bill Gates, | | | | someone you admire in your field, asking for 10 |
| former GE CEO Jack Welch, and Virgin Atlantic's | | | | minutes of their time a month to get their |
| Richard Branson, have in common? | | | | perspective. |
| I found answers after my second reading of Malcolm | | | | Be willing to experiment, fail and try again. |
| Gladwell's book "Outliers." Gladwell points to the | | | | Nobody is successful 100% of the time. The more |
| propitious timing of Gates' birth, for example. Gates | | | | failures/rejections you collect, the closer you are to |
| was able, through luck and being in the right place at | | | | success. |
| the right time, to get free computer lab time to learn | | | | Develop values to live by. Do you want to be |
| about desktop computing. He spent more than | | | | known for fairness? Integrity? Transparency? |
| 10,000 hours focused on everything to do with the | | | | Boldness? Creativity? You can build your reputation |
| new field of desktop computing. | | | | by leading with your values. |
| I then wondered how we might translate Gladwell's | | | | Find ways to help others be successful. This will |
| hypothesis and learn what made a successful | | | | bolster your network and come back to you triple |
| innovator? Were there common threads running | | | | fold. The best leaders start with asking their |
| through the success of the people he profiled? | | | | employees what they need to succeed in their jobs. |
| And what about the rest of us, who are not lucky, | | | | Notice how many of the above correlations cover |
| or born at the right time and place? | | | | the same ground: hard work and dedication, taking |
| Here are some correlations that occurred to me: | | | | risks, being bold, and inspiring people. These behaviors |
| Find a field of study that you consider fun. Let | | | | may not be part of your "DNA," but they can be |
| your curiosity guide the way. And then learn | | | | mastered. I can't think of a better use of your time. |