Thomas Edison once famously said "Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration." Malcolm Gladwell popularized the work of the psychologist K. Anders Ericsson and his 10,000-hour rule.

What I think gets lost is that some people simplify these ideas to a misguided concept that anyone can achieve mastery and greatness if they just spend enough hours in the work.

This has never been true.

I could spend 100,000 hours working on my golf game and I would still never have a chance to make it into the PGA. It's not my gift. I'd get better, sure. But I wouldn't become a master.

Somehow that approach is lost in too many companies. Trying and failing early is great. Trying and flailing is bad.

Leadership bears a responsibility to set goals and direction so others can put their efforts towards the right ideals.

Teams need to focus on what success looks like. How will the individuals on the team know if they're on the right path, or just spinning their wheels? Can they adjust in the flow so not all effort is wasted if they got off course?

And everyone has to find peace with accountability for both the effort and outcome.