I am blessed to know some of the most talented and skilled people in the world. Their abilities amaze me.

Some are artistic, like a coaching client who is a syndicated cartoonist, now putting his talent  to work in a very meaningful way. Or my friend Scott Stearman, who captures expression in sculptures so powerfully, they move people to tears. Some are musically inclined like my friend Jason Garey, or gifted writers and speakers, like my mentors John C. Maxwell and Dan Miller.

So what, of all these abilities, is the greatest ability?  Is it art, music, performing arts, genius?

None of the above, actually.

The late Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. said it best:

“The greatest ability is dependability.”

We’ve all seen talented folks with incredible potential who lack dependability. They don’t have the stick-to-it factor we call dependability or reliability. They may show up to perform flawlessly one week and then fail to show up at all the next. Over time, they lose credibility.

We’ve also seen people of lesser talent exceed the success of the ultra-talented, simply by pushing forward and being dependable.

I think of “A” students – valedictorians – voted “most likely to succeed”, and top in athletic talent (all in one enviable package!) who go into life and do…nothing. This is sad. And I’ve seen “C” students go on to become multi-millionaires.

We are each endowed with a special gift. It is often my pleasure to help folks unearth that gift. But we have a responsibility to use that gift.

This combination of ABILITY and DEPENDABILITY is a tried and true formula for success, and both components are essential.

Take the time to discover your strengths, and then take the initiative to apply them consistently.

Your results will never be the same.