Three: The Human Resources Emerging Executive

CHAPTER 7 Find Your WillBe^™

High Potential Acceleration

I had a lot of fun writing my first book, WillBe: 13 Reasons WillBe’s Are Luckier Than WannaBe’s (Ziskin, 2011). It is a book about what distinguishes highly regarded high potentials from others who aspire to be, but are not.

In WillBe, I quote the ancient Roman dramatist, philosopher, and politician Seneca, who said, “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” The point of this quote, and the entire book, is that, while luck is terrific, it typically has very little to do with success, especially that which is sustained over time. Instead, success is more often associated with great preparation and the ability to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. That’s ...