07/09/2026
One thing I’ve learned while helping build social inside a startup is that there’s a difference between having the skill to do the job and having the will to do the job.
You need both.
Skill matters because it’s what allows you to execute. It’s what gets you in the door and earns trust.
But when you’re building something from the ground up, skill will only take you so far.
There isn’t always a blueprint.
Processes are still being built.
Priorities shift.
Resources change.
Some days you’re creating the strategy, and other days you’re solving problems no one saw coming.
That’s where will takes over.
The willingness to adapt.
The willingness to own the outcome.
The willingness to keep learning, keep building, and keep showing up even when the work looks different than it did yesterday.
I’ve found that the people who create longevity aren’t always the ones with the strongest resumes. They’re the ones who genuinely care about the work, embrace the challenge of building, and don’t lose heart when things get hard.
In social, the platforms will change. The algorithms will change. Even the way we measure success will continue to evolve.
What shouldn’t change is your willingness to grow with it.
Skill may open the door, but your will, your character, and your commitment to the work are what sustain a career.
That’s what keeps you in the game.
That’s what creates longevity.
