Remarkable

"Business is a team sport; no one succeeds alone." This book challenges the traditional notion of success by stressing the power of collaboration, honesty, and humility in the workplace.

1. Real-World Success Isn’t About IQ

Successful businesspeople don’t rely solely on academic smarts—they rely on practical experience. School environments focus on dissecting theories and solving problems with black-and-white answers. The business world, however, is riddled with gray areas and unpredictable outcomes.

Real-world success comes from integrating diverse skills—people skills, leadership, and perseverance—which develop over years, not semesters. These abilities, honed through trial and error, are key to decision-making and innovation in a field where mistakes are inevitable.

Business, unlike standardized tests, values sustained effort and adaptability over raw intellectual horsepower. Street smarts and hands-on learning often trump theoretical knowledge.

Examples

• A physician-turned-CEO uses people-management skills developed during patient care to build a strong team culture.
• Entrepreneurs often rely on gut instinct built from years of navigating financial challenges, rather than perfect data.
• Leaders in tech industries frequently succeed by first tackling smaller, less glamorous projects, which teach them nuances they later apply to broader goals.

2. Getting Noticed Requires Strategy

Hard work alone won’t earn recognition—you need to catch the attention of key decision-makers. Being noticed involves competing successfully by showcasing your abilities in ways aligned with business goals and workplace culture.

It’s not enough to be competent; you must actively communicate your strengths. However, it’s also critical to avoid drawing attention for the wrong reasons, like lateness or a negative attitude. Your qualities will only benefit your career if they stand out to those in positions of influence.

This means two things: consistently excelling in your work and ensuring that leaders are aware of your contributions. Networking and visibility are just as important as doing the job well.

Examples

• A junior employee impresses management by presenting creative solutions in a team meeting.
• A marketing specialist builds internal recognition by volunteering to lead a high-profile campaign.
• A project manager ensures visibility by sharing progress reports with higher-ups at key milestones.

3. Humble Confidence Earns Respect

When you let your results speak for themselves instead of bragging, your peers and supervisors respect you more. Bragging often breeds resentment, while humility signals security in your abilities.

Colleagues appreciate team players more than solo stars. Being humble doesn’t mean downplaying your achievements but rather trusting others to notice them. This trust builds stronger relationships and fosters collaboration, which are essential in any business setting.

Moreover, claiming undue credit or discrediting others damages your reputation and ability to work within a team. Respected individuals balance confidence with acknowledgment of others' contributions.

Examples

• A team member shifts the focus of credit from themselves to the group effort.
• A supervisor trusts their team's judgment without micromanaging, earning mutual respect.
• An employee shares success stories about collective efforts instead of only their personal growth.

4. Credibility Trumps Perfection

Admitting your mistakes signals integrity. While errors might momentarily dent your image, dodging responsibility severely harms credibility.

Mistakes are often forgivable; dishonesty is not. Authenticity builds trust, which is a cornerstone of effective teamwork and leadership. Those who fear admitting their flaws risk losing reputation, as colleagues recognize and reject evasive behavior.

Being upfront about errors allows teams to focus on problem-solving rather than finger-pointing, reinforcing an atmosphere of collaboration and reliability.

Examples

• An entrepreneur admits to shareholders that a product launch was poorly timed, gaining their trust by sharing a clear recovery plan.
• A manager owns up to miscommunicating deadlines, ensuring their team can adjust accordingly.
• A junior analyst confesses missing an important calculation but offers an immediate solution, impressing their supervisor.

5. Managers Should Prioritize Truth

Punishing employees for mistakes discourages openness. If team members worry about consequences, they’ll likely conceal errors, which only complicates identifying and addressing the problem.

Fostering honesty requires building a safe space that lacks fear of blame. By focusing on accountability instead of punishment, you encourage a culture where people learn from their setbacks together. Lies, however, must face consequences to maintain transparency.

In practice, managers should communicate their expectations clearly: mistakes are learning opportunities, but dishonesty is not tolerated.

Examples

• A CEO assures employees at all-hands meetings that honest error reporting will be met with support, leading to more proactive communication.
• A team leader investigates a mistake thoroughly, ensuring no one feels targeted while figuring out actionable solutions.
• A manager penalizes an employee for hiding faulty data but praises another for coming clean about a similar problem.

6. Thoughtfulness Beats Aggression in Criticism

When offering criticism, your tone, demeanor, and the way you phrase feedback matter. People naturally dislike feeling attacked or dismissed, so criticizing harshly may hurt their morale and close the door on healthy discussions.

Instead, disarm negative reactions by appreciating the other person’s input before addressing disagreements. Reframe criticism as questions or suggestions to encourage discussion instead of defensiveness.

Showing empathy, staying composed, and valuing others' ideas foster a culture of open exchange without personal conflict.

Examples

• A director begins a critique of a flawed proposal by highlighting its innovative elements before suggesting a revision.
• A project manager frames disagreements within a brainstorming session instead of focusing on what’s wrong.
• A supervisor maintains an optimistic tone during yearly review meetings to build trust with employees.

7. Career Growth Relies on Authenticity

Advancing your career means knowing what truly matters—integrity, teamwork, and a focus on collective results. Overemphasizing your self-image or trying too hard to impress can backfire, as others often see through insincerity.

Success often stems from patience and a willingness to prioritize relationships over short-term wins. Action speaks louder than words, and your colleagues will appreciate proof of your skills over exaggerated claims.

Ultimately, authenticity lays a strong foundation for long-term success in environments where collaboration matters more than individual stardom.

Examples

• A new hire earns trust by making meaningful contributions instead of overpromising skills on their resume.
• A mid-level professional spends extra time mentoring juniors, demonstrating their reliability.
• A salesperson prioritizes client satisfaction over high-pressure tactics, attracting repeat business.

8. Experience Reigns Supreme

The most successful leaders share a common trait—they rely on lessons gathered from practical experience. Classroom learning can be useful, but no textbook prepares you for the nuances of managing people, handling crises, or strategizing across changing markets.

The best way to grow is to embrace every opportunity for hands-on learning. Mistakes become stepping stones when approached with the right attitude.

Field experience also forces adaptability, a key trait in industries marked by constant evolution and competition.

Examples

• A start-up founder adjusts their growth plan based on feedback from early customers.
• A manager reflects on a team conflict to approach similar situations diplomatically later.
• A leader benefits from years of observing competitors’ mistakes to craft smarter policies.

9. Collaboration Elevates Success

No individual is indispensable in a group. An overemphasis on personal success often stems from ignoring colleagues’ input. Instead, thriving businesses center their culture on teamwork and shared effort.

Great leaders foster cooperation and allow everyone to contribute. This sense of inclusivity ensures innovative solutions arise from diverse perspectives, rather than depending on a single authority figure.

In the long run, collaboration often proves more productive than competition.

Examples

• A software company’s cross-department team brainstorms to create a higher-value product than they would individually.
• A junior marketer receives credit from their whole team for improving campaign performance.
• A failing project is revived through collective input from an organization’s wider network.

Takeaways

1. Build humility into your professional life by trusting others to notice your strengths instead of over-asserting them.
2. Create a culture of honesty by admitting your mistakes and encouraging team members to do the same without penalty.
3. Approach disagreements thoughtfully—balance assertiveness with appreciation for others’ contributions to ensure smoother resolutions.