Geoff Colvin on Why Talent is Overrated

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Published: Jan 24, 2019

We all know that the definition for success in the corporate world is fairly straightforward. To be considered great, companies first need to turn a profit. For organizations in the social sector, however, the challenge is much bigger. To be truly effective, they must stay relevant and, above all, stay true to their mission. For the past thirty-five years, Cass Wheeler has ensured that the American Heart Association has fulfilled its calling to save lives and educate the public about heart disease by adopting some of the same strategies used in the for-profit sector. In You’ve Gotta Have Heart, he shows people at all levels of a nonprofit how to make sure their hard work really pays off. Using examples of some of the American Heart Association and others, Wheeler reveals the leadership skills that will help employees, volunteers, and board members excel at their jobs, become good role models, and build a more visionary, creative, and disciplined nonprofit organization. Cass Wheeler is the longtime Chief Executive Officer of the American Heart Association. Mr. Wheeler is currently on the boards of Partnership for Prevention, NationalCenter for Tobacco-Free Kids, and Research!America. He has been with the AHA for 35 years and served as CEO for 11 of those years. For additional training on this topic, consider these AMA seminars: * Developing Executive Leadership To learn more, read these AMACOM Books: You've Gotta Have Heart by Cass WheelerWhy are some people - Tiger Woods, Warren Buffett, Yo-Yo Ma - so incredibly accomplished at what they do, while millions of others in those same fields never become very good? Why are some people so extraordinarily creative and innovative? Why can...Why are some people – Tiger Woods, Warren Buffett, Yo-Yo Ma – so incredibly accomplished at what they do, while millions of others in those same fields never become very good? Why are some people so extraordinarily creative and innovative? Why can some continue to perform great at ages when conventional wisdom would deem it impossible? lt;P>Those are the questions Geoff Colvin set out to answer in Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers From Everybody Else.

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