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
EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
Published 7d+
A Journey of Inspiration with G.Srinivas Sir
At Edgroom, we celebrate incredible educators who inspire and empower their students. Today, we honor G. Srinivas Sir, a passionate mathematics teacher whose dedication has impacted countless lives.A
EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
Published 7d+
The Complete Guide to Medical Specializations: From MBBS to DM/MCh
🩺 Undergraduate DegreeBachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)A 5½-year professional medical degree combining theoretical learning and clinical exposure. This is
Bhanumurthy
Published 7d+
Calcutta Chronicles: A Glimpse into the City of Joy
It happened to me recently, visiting Calcutta for a two-day training organized by ERLDC. Probably, Calcutta was the first city in India to witness an intellectual revolution mixed with traditional and
EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
Published 7d+
GITAM Visakhapatnam: A Detailed Overview
Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM), Visakhapatnam, is the flagship campus of GITAM Deemed to be University, established in 1980. Nestled between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
Guardians of the Planet
Guardians of the Planet: The Emergence of Chief Heat Officers and Climate-Centric Education- Read My PerspectiveDear Friends and StudentsOne of my friends shared an article on the appointment of
EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
Published 7d+
Integrated Programs at IITs
The institutes like IIT Bombay and IIT Kanpur along with 4 years B .Tech programs also offering 4 years Bachelor of Science (B.S) programs in subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
Seiryu-Miharashi
This Railway Station is created for a Purpose, without an Entrance, Exit or a Ticket Machine! Did you create such stations in your life journey or only planning to stop at the final Carriage and Wagon
EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
Published 7d+
Sri Venkateswara Vedic University (SVVU), Tirupati: Overview
Sri Venkateswara Vedic University (SVVU), located in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, is a state university established in 2006 by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Sponsored by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
Confluence of Declining Math Ability
"Confluence of Declining Math Ability, Mobile Device Usage in Child Development, and AI as Future Teachers: Exploring the Changing Landscape and Implications for the World"Dear Friends and
EdGe: Your Academic Co-pilot
Published 7d+
🎨 Design as a Career: A Creative Journey After 12th
Choosing a career after 12th standard is a crucial decision, especially when you have creative talents and artistic instincts. If you find joy in drawing, imagining, innovating, and problem-solving through
K. Hanumantha Rao
Published 7d+
Think Differently
A glance at Indian history reveals that India was not only a knowledge society but also an industrial society. Our intellectuals and researchers were called rishis. India was a rich and prosperous country,
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
Kartikeya Kommanamanchi
Published 7d+
The Most Important Day for an Indian!
It is no surprise to boast that Independence Day is the most important day for Indians. It ought to be so for any person in the world if their country fought for Independence, especially from imperial/
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