This piece argues that the biggest predictor of groundbreaking research isn’t effort but choosing a high-impact problem. It offers advice on how to spot and focus on the questions that drive outsized success.

The author recalls early Amazon days when constantly fixing problems and overworking won praise but stalled his advancement. After a decade in performance calibration meetings, he realized that being indispensable in day-to-day tasks doesn’t translate into career growth. He unpacks common “helpful” habits that actually hold you back.