If I could measure only two things when hiring but I got an exact measurement of them, they would be initiative/drive and interest. In my experience, those who

If I could measure only two things when hiring but I got an exact measurement of them, they would be initiative/drive and interest. In my experience, those who are truly interested in something and have an innate need to get things done by taking the initiative themselves almost always beat natural talent. It just so happens that lots of people with those traits end up looking like people with natural talent.