What Makes An Icon? It's More Than Just Talent - LinkedIn

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Icon. Sometimes, that seems like such a loose term. An undervalued and misused (and overused) word that belongs in the hall of fame of other misrepresented words including entrepreneurial and love. Apparently Kim Kardashian is an icon. Now I feel somewhat bad using her as a negative example because it seems like there are quite a few folks out there (of all ages) that view Mrs. Yeezus as an icon. In the “brave” new world of Instagram and Twitter, many of her 35M + twitter followers would probably furiously debate her status as someone worth emulating. Admittedly, I have respect for anyone who has been able to brand themselves so well, that their name would be recognized from corners of Africa to the remote islands of the Pacific. Her ability to brand herself is a talent - a world renowned talent. But an icon? A contributing influencer? I don't know. However, something about the notion of putting her in the same company as Hillary Clinton and Malala Yousafzai is.... unsettling.

With that said, I also believe that the word icon can be somewhat subjective. I mean, yes there is the official definition as defined by the dictionary, but who I perceive to be an icon could be vastly different to a 70 year old grandmother in El Salvador. An icon to me is someone who has made a tangible difference and positive influence on a measurable scale. However, the term can be used on a more specific scale – an icon in fashion, an icon in sports, an icon in film. Regardless of all of these assertions and definitions, these are followed influencers who are still considered, by some definition, an icon. So the next question is, what do these “icons” have in common? Forget for a moment what you personally consider an icon. How did these individuals distance themselves from the rest of the 6B + people, over their lifetime? What are the common threads?

There are probably a few. There is likely some level of borderline prodigious talent as a foundation to build upon. But in my mind, it’s so much more. In addition to talent, it has to be the perfect storm of fearlessness, perfectionism, passion and drive. When you read/hear about industry icons Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Bill Gates, Dr. Dre and yes (as much as we all hate him) probably even Kanye West himself, they all have a perfectionist compulsion that is catalyzed by those other indispensable traits. They are undeterred, undaunted and unwavered by the risk of failure. The unquenchable thirst for achieving their goals cannot be wasted or withered, and must be shared. Anything less is considered an unacceptable failure that will consistently and persistently eat away at the objectives they’ve ambitiously designed. Similar to a virus that needs to be vaccinated, cured and prevented from ever occurring again. You take these factors and evolve them over a career that is based on the visceral need for growth, learning and the pursuit of “success” (another possibly misused term) and I think…I think, you have the recipe for an icon.

As a recruiter, I am required to evaluate talent. That's literally my job. I do it all day, everyday, and I absolutely love it. Over the course of a 1000 + in-person interviews, I've been conditioned and trained to understand what makes an exceptional candidate, and what separates them from the pack. Now "A-players" are by no means predisposed to be icons, but they hold the same foundation that gives them the potential to one day, maybe build toward that status. I also have the privilege of being mentored by the industries best. Recruitment does not exactly have the most heartwarming reputation, a ridiculously obvious statement. But what Pronexia has been able to achieve over the course of the last five years is unprecedented in a generally old school and stale industry. I have one director somehow – yet successfully - mothering three, beautiful young children all the while opening a new Pronexia office on the other side of the country, in Vancouver. My other director sits on a board of 18 of Montreal's brightest entrepreneurs... As the only woman. What gets me excited is not only working with the highest level of professionals I've ever been exposed to, but having the enviable opportunity to regularly meet severely talented individuals who you know have the ability to someday make a significant, substantive difference in people's everyday lives. To me, that's exactly what icons are made of.

Follow us on Twitter @deroussan @pronexia & check out our website by visiting www.pronexia.com

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Share 23 4 Comments Benjamin G. 10y

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Great lead-up: Never in a million years would I of thought that I would ever read through a post that mentioned Kim Kardashian in the first three sentences)!

Like Reply 1 Reaction 2 Reactions Ahmed Nour, PMP 10y

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Great article! Thank you for sharing.

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