Talent Alone Won’t Get You Booked. Effort is The Secret to Success
Why Combining Talent with Relentless Effort Is Essential for Building a Successful Career
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Talent Alone Won’t Get You Booked. Effort is The Secret to Success
Almost every week I get a call from someone eager to become a professional speaker. They’re looking for advice, shortcuts, and, most of all, insights on crafting a compelling keynote.
Why Crafting a Great Speech Is Just the Beginning
I always tell them the same thing: writing a great speech is critical. But it’s not the hard part. That’s just the cost of entry. The hard part is getting the gigs. If you’re not willing to do the real work, the relentless, unglamorous work of developing speaking opportunities, then no brilliant speech is going to help you.
Which brings me to my daughter, Ali.
But first, a story.
Talent Plus Effort: The Only Success Formula That Works
Last week, Ali had an article published in The Los Angeles Times magazine.
Not a blog.
Not a social post.
A full feature in one of the most prestigious newspapers in the country.
And it was not a fluke. She worked her tail off to make it happen.
She developed the concept, pitched the editor, revised drafts, chased down every image, selected the model, the stylist, and each outfit, and kept on perfecting her vision when most people would have given up and gone for a latte.
But she didn’t stop there. She also took all the photographs that accompanied the article.
Sure, my daughter has talent. She can turn a phrase in ways that surprise and delight. She has an eye for capturing moments that tell a story. But talent, on its own, is not enough. What mattered was that she sold the idea. She did the work. She earned her space in the publication.
I see the same thing in the speaking world. Lots of people have beautiful stories, moving presentations, powerful messages. But they sit back and wait for the phone to ring. They post a couple of videos on LinkedIn and wonder why the world is not beating a path to their door.
Meanwhile, the people who are on stages all over the world are not just talented, they are relentless. They call. They write. They follow up. They understand that speaking is not just a performance, it is a business.
The Lesson: Sell Yourself as Hard as You Serve Your Audience
Talent without effort is a beautiful waste.
Effort without talent is a lonely grind.
It’s the combination of effort and talent—the persistent hustle fueled by genuine ability—that creates real, lasting success.
The Critical Combination for Success: Talent and Relentless Effort
How This Principle Applies to All Professions
Whether you want to write for the Los Angeles Times, speak on the biggest stages, or excel in any field, the formula is the same: first, create something remarkable. Then work twice as hard to make sure people know about it.
After I sent my daughter’s article around to show off to a few friends, I got a reply from Emmy Award-winning humorist Bill Stainton. He wrote back, “Awesome! It always amazes me how true talent can skip a generation.”
Touché, Bill. Touché.
If you want someone who knows how to combine talent with relentless effort and can teach your audience to do the same, call me. I keynote at conferences worldwide. I still have a few open dates for 2025 and would love to help you inspire your team to move beyond talent and into action.
Because in the end, the world is not moved by potential. It is moved by performance.
You can learn more at www.bruceturkel.com