Why Being “Good” Isn’t Enough: The Sales Lesson Most Creators Miss

Turning skill into success: How mastering sales, not just craft, shapes real-world outcomes

There is a story Robert Kiyosaki often tells about a trip to Malaysia that perfectly encapsulates the tension between talent and success.

He was there for a conference, sitting with a young journalist who was interviewing him. She was bright, articulate, and had just completed her master’s degree in writing and literature. During the interview, she noticed a note on Kiyosaki’s preparation papers: “Robert Kiyosaki, Best-Selling Author.”

At the end of the interview, she asked him for advice. She wanted to be a successful author like him. Kiyosaki paused and gave her a piece of advice that he knew might sting: “I suggest you take a sales training course.”

She was insulted. She had a master’s degree in the craft of writing. Why would she lower herself to learn sales? She felt he was belittling her education.

Kiyosaki smiled and pointed back to the note. “It says ‘Best-Selling Author,’ not ‘Best-Writing Author.’ You are a master writer. I am a terrible writer. But I am a master salesman.”

This …