Do the Things That Require Zero Talent Really Well
The Most Impactful Things Don’t Require Talent
The most impactful things in your career often don’t require a degree, a resume, or even any talent whatsoever. They require intention and consistency.
I once interviewed a candidate for a sales role. They showed up three minutes late, wearing a sweatshirt. We sell products that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and in an interview setting, where you should be on your absolute best behavior, this candidate had already signaled they weren’t taking it seriously.
The experience got me thinking: talent and experience are important, but they don’t replace the basics. What I truly value in people, both professionally and personally, is this: those who do the things that require zero talent consistently, and do them well.
The Small Things That Matter Most
What do I mean by “zero-talent” things? Simple things like:
A firm handshake while looking someone in the eye.
Keeping commitments.
Being on time.
Preparing in advance for important conversations.
Providing updates early when work won’t be delivered on time.
Writing a thank you card (bonus points if it’s handwritten).
Saying please and thank you.
These don’t take skill, but they take intention — and yet, it’s shocking how many people skip them.
The “Please and Thank You” Speech
When I was in college, my coach gave us a speech at team orientation that he called the Please and Thank You Speech.
He reminded us that being athletes on a college campus was both a privilege and a responsibility. He refused to have athletes who carried a bad reputation. His expectation was simple: we were the kind of people who said please and thank you… and lived it out.
On our camp shirts that year we wore the words “relentless pursuit of perfection” a mantra that’s stuck with me for years, not because I think perfection is achievable, but because the relentless pursuit of it keeps me humble, keeps me learning, and keeps me aspiring (in case you were wondering, we did go undefeated that year).
In this speech, he shared one specific example of what he meant by “always say please and thank you” that had nothing to do with the words please and thank you, but instead were a representation of the expectation he had for us: returning your grocery cart to the cart stall. Rain, snow, time of day, whoever was around or not around, on crutches from game day, 👏 it 👏 didn’t 👏 matter — if you took the cart, you put it back. No excuses.
To this day, I think of him every time I return my cart.
While my coach, Coach Graz, wasn’t nearly as intense as Coach Boone in Remember The Titans, I always think about him during this scene…
Why Zero Talent Matters More Than You Think
Doing the things that require zero talent is bigger than a handshake or a cart return.
It’s about building trust, consistency, and reputation.
It’s about being the kind of person people get a good gut feeling about. It’s about being the kind of person that are in relentless pursuit of perfection, regardless the fact that perfection is utterly elusive. These aren’t always the people with the perfect resumes, but they’re the ones with the perfect attitudes — the ones you can develop into something exceptional.
In my experience, those who commit to the basics consistently are the people who get ahead, and stay ahead.
Your Next Growth Edge: Back to Basics
If you’re looking for your next growth edge, it may not be a certification, a new skill, or a bigger job title. It might just mean returning to the basics — doing the things that take zero talent, consistently and well.
Three Reflection Prompts
Reliability Check
Think about the last commitment you made — big or small. Did you keep it on time and with intention, or did you cut a corner? How would people describe your reliability if asked behind your back?First Impressions Audit
When you walk into a room (an interview, a meeting, a dinner party), what’s the impression you leave in the first two minutes — through your body language, eye contact, tone, and presence? Would you hire you based on those two minutes alone?Respect in Action
Where in your daily life can you show respect in small, overlooked ways? (Returning the grocery cart, writing a thank-you note, giving credit to a colleague, showing up prepared.) Which one of these could you recommit to today?
Recipe for Success: The Zero-Talent Advantage
Ingredients: Punctuality, gratitude, follow-through, preparation, respect
Directions: Practice daily. No special skills required.
Results: Trust, opportunity, and long-term success.
