Brilliance vs. Reliability: Which is More Important in the Contemporary World?
Recently, the famous Hindi actor Sunil Shetty shared a post reflecting on the value of reliability over raw talent or brilliance, drawing from his experiences in the film industry and the business world.
Shetty provided personal examples of long-standing relationships with team members who have been with him for over 30 years: Parshu, who manages his personal affairs; Kiran Dada, his makeup artist; Ashok, who handles his accounts and taxes; Kanta, who runs operations in his offices; and Muchhad, his former driver who now looks after his farmhouse.
In today’s world, brilliance is often rewarded, but the quiet power of consistently showing up and delivering is underrated. This is reflected in many areas. Forbes published an article on “What kind of characteristics, what kind of personal qualities, in the aggregate, are most valuable?” The answer is reliability over brilliance. Brilliant, difficult employees often consume a lot of management time. In a twist on the old "80-20 rule" (where 80% of your business is said to come from 20% of your customers), the author found that they spent 80% of their time on 20% of their employees—and they weren’t the calm, collaborative, easy-going, reliable ones.
However, today, this notion is slowly fading. Of course, brilliance is needed to some extent in every organization. However, it should be utilized according to need. Thanks to technology, brilliance can be acquired as a service. Organizations can buy that service, but they need a reliable team to sustain it. Hence, reliability becomes more important.
This issue extends beyond organizations—it has also crept into family systems. Parents appreciate their children’s brilliance while they pursue degrees, but it often loses value afterward. Today, in the context of marriage, if a boy or girl is reliable, this quality is often overlooked. Brilliance takes precedence in selecting a bride or groom, yet this model has proven to fail over time.
Rahul Dravid is known as “Mr. Dependable” in Indian cricket. In the 2004 India vs. Pakistan Test Match, Rahul Dravid played a 270-ball inning over almost 12 hours. Can you imagine playing for 12 hours straight? In the history of Test matches, no Indian batsman had ever played an inning that long. He is known as the "Wall" of cricket. For most of his career, Dravid was considered to be in Sachin’s shadow. However, he proved himself as a true gentleman and a complete test cricketer. This is the power of reliability.
Consider these scenarios:
• Would you buy a car that can reach 150 km per hour but whose engine fails frequently, or one that goes 50 km per hour but never fails?
• Would you invest in an asset that offers a 40% return but might plunge into negative territory, or one that offers a consistent 6% return over the long term?
• Would you take a job with the highest package, but with the risk of being laid off anytime, or one with a lower package but long-term stability?
• Would you board a train that is always on time, or a flight with unpredictable arrival times?
Today’s society is divided by these questions. One generation prioritizes risk over reward.
"Facts from paper are not the same as facts from people. The reliability of the people giving you the facts is as important as the facts themselves." – Harold Geneen.
What is your priority? Brilliance or reliability?
Ravi Saripalle
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
View Details
Like
0 Comments
Repost
You may also like
The Art of Teaching
Published 7d+
Happy Teachers, Happy Students: Building Schools That Thrive
The saying, "Happy teachers make happy students," isn’t just a feel-good mantra—it’s a profound truth that underscores the foundation of a thriving educational
The Art of Teaching
Published 7d+
The Power of Teaching: Cultivating Minds Like a Garden
As educators, we often seek metaphors to better understand our roles and the impact we have on our students. One such analogy is comparing teaching to gardening—a living process that thrives
Bade Ramyasri
Published 4d
The Timeless Legacy of Indian Mathematics
"Indian mathematics has always been a bridge between abstract thought and practical application, laying the foundation for the mathematical discoveries that shape our modern world."Indian
The Art of Teaching
Published 2d
Lessons in Perspective: A Tale for Teachers
As teachers, we often find ourselves anticipating specific answers from our students. But what happens when their responses diverge from our expectations? This story of a young boy and his math teacher
The Art of Teaching
Published 1d
Guiding Teenagers: Empowering Growth, Not Solving Problems
Teenagers often seem like puzzles—their behaviors, emotions, and choices can be perplexing to those who care for them. As parents, educators, or mentors, we may feel compelled to “fix”
Edgroom
Published 7d+
EAPCET Top-20 colleges in KADAPA - CIVIL ENGINEERING
Top-20 EAPCET colleges for CIVIL ENGINEERING in KADAPA basis EAPCET 2023 cut-off ranks. Cut-off ranks are for OC-Male category from 2022, and 2023 data. You can
Edgroom
Published 7d+
EAPCET Top-20 colleges in VIJAYAWADA - ELECTRONICS AND INSTRUMENTATION ENGINEERING
Top-20 EAPCET colleges for ELECTRONICS AND INSTRUMENTATION ENGINEERING in VIJAYAWADA basis EAPCET 2023 cut-off ranks. Cut-off ranks are for OC-Male category from 2022, and 2023
Edgroom
Published 7d+
EAPCET Top-20 colleges in PEDANA - CIVIL ENGINEERING
Top-20 EAPCET colleges for CIVIL ENGINEERING in PEDANA basis EAPCET 2023 cut-off ranks. Cut-off ranks are for OC-Male category from 2022, and 2023 data. You can
Edgroom
Published 7d+
EAPCET Top-20 colleges in PARITALA - COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Top-20 EAPCET colleges for COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING in PARITALA basis EAPCET 2023 cut-off ranks. Cut-off ranks are for OC-Male category from 2022, and 2023 data.
Edgroom
Published 7d+
EAPCET Top-20 colleges in MYLAVARAM - COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Top-20 EAPCET colleges for COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING in MYLAVARAM basis EAPCET 2023 cut-off ranks. Cut-off ranks are for OC-Male category from 2022, and 2023 data.
Edgroom
Published 7d+
EAPCET Top-20 colleges -- ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
Top-20 EAPCET colleges for ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING basis EAPCET 2023 cut-off ranks. Cut-off ranks are for OC-Male category from 2022, and 2023 data.
VENKATESH PANYAM
Published 7d+
Unleashing Potential: The Educator's Role in Nurturing Student Success
In the realm of education, the role of educators extends far beyond imparting knowledge. It is a journey of discovery, where students are not confined by predetermined capabilities but are seen as
Related Blogs
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
Career Path vs Career Portfolio
Are You Working towards a “Career Path” or Building a “Career Portfolio”? Time to invest in Latter! Say Bye to “Career Path”!! Read this Interesting Perspective!!Dear
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
Soul Pleasure Vs Societal Pleasure
Hard to Accept this Definition but Soft to Reject? Soul Pleasure and Pressure Vs Societal Pleasure and Pressure? Read this perspective!Dear Friends and StudentsGustavo Petro, the Mayor of Bogota,
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
Dream vs Dignity
Hack the MAANG or Happy with WAIT Companies!! Dream vs Dignity?Dear Friends and StudentsSlowing Global Economic Growth is Increasingly Evident! I have been receiving multiple calls from the student
ELCSLAB @ Lendi
Published 7d+
Legendary spinners in the world cricket
Legendary spinners in the world cricketRavichandran Ashwin:Ravichandran Ashwin is an Indian international cricketer from Chennai, who plays for the India cricket team. In Indian domestic cricket he
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
Living in scarcity vs. Living in Abundance!!
Plenty but Purposeless results are Pathetic! Living in scarcity vs. Living in Abundance!! Read this perspectiveDear Friends and StudentA coupleuple of days back I received a LinkedIn message with the
ELCSLAB @ Lendi
Published 7d+
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THE FUTURE OF WORLD
IntroductionArtificial Intelligence has emerged as a transformative force, revolutionizing industries, enhancing productivity, and reshaping the way we live and work. As we look to the