Talent gets you the tryout. Character gets you the second season.

Ability opens the first door and does very little after that. Once everyone in the room can play, what separates people is whether they are easy to coach, on time, honest about mistakes and decent when things go badly. Those are the things others quietly decide about you in the first month. They are also the things that never make the highlight reel.

Assume your skill is already enough to get noticed and put this week’s attention elsewhere. Arrive early, take one correction without defending yourself, and finish something you said you would. That part of the season is entirely yours.