Constellations

Don’t pursue the career where you have the strongest skill.

The most successful among us have a constellation of skills in the same skill area.

A constellation is just a grouping of stars that suggest a shape because they’re clustered together in the sky. Likewise, successful people have multiple skills that are clustered together. A successful solo singer, for example, doesn’t just have great pipes: she also has great reading skills, a strong ear, the charisma to command a stage, strong interpersonal skills to work with collaborators, business savvy, hustle, and a drive to keep trying after failure. A great CEO, likewise, has a cluster of skills around leadership, vision, organization, and business.

You don’t have to be the absolute best at any one of these skills. You just need to have developed skill across an entire constellation, so that they support and feed each other.

Don’t look for an amazing single skill. Look for the constellation.