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In the corporate world, plenty of people have tried to stretch in some direction that hasn’t worked out. Some of those setbacks turn out to be hidden strengths, rather than shortcomings.

There’s something about having been snubbed early that propels certain people to greater success, no matter how much they achieve.

…individual careers can benefit from the gritty work required to recover from a career stumble.

Anyone who pays close attention over a decade or more will start to see the small clues that presage people’s destinies.

For bosses… it’s not enough to discover talent that shouts. That much is easy. The great challenges come later, once such people are on the payroll.

…everything hinges on an ability to make the most of such people’s wide-ranging ambitions and restless spirits.

Talent-rich organizations know this. They cater to people who are always looking for harder challenges, bigger arenas, and greater mastery.

…highly capable people abandon places where the mission feels flawed or contrived.

If the organization’s message is especially inspiring, remarkable people will clamor for the chance to do even the hardest, most poorly supported tasks.

Rallying other people to become part of a movement is as delicate as can be. Push too hard on save-the-world imagery, without enough substance to back it up, and everything collapses into self-parody.