Extraordinary Ability is Built, Not Claimed: A Framework for Career Acceleration

When people hear the phrase “extraordinary ability,” they often imagine it’s reserved for a chosen few. They think of Nobel Prize winners, Olympic athletes, or world-famous artists. The truth, however, is that extraordinary ability is not a title bestowed on the lucky or the privileged. It is something built deliberately, piece by piece, through consistent choices, visibility, and a willingness to show up in spaces others are too hesitant to enter.

I have lived this journey myself. When I first heard about the O-1 visa, often called the “extraordinary ability” visa, I assumed it was out of reach. I thought, like many professionals do, that you had to be at the very top of your field with decades of accolades to even qualify. But as I began to examine the criteria, I realized that extraordinary ability is not about perfection or superstardom. It is about evidence. It is about being able to demonstrate, clearly and consistently, that your work has had an impact beyond the ordinary.

This is where many professionals get it wrong. They focus on doing good work but leave no trail. They serve clients faithfully but never document the results. They speak at events but don’t publicize it. They write, but never publish. Extraordinary ability is built when you create footprints that others can follow, when your expertise can be traced not just in what you say you do, but in what the world can see you have done.

I often guide professionals through this process using what I call the principle of layering. You start with the achievements you already have, maybe a recognition at work, a local award, or a project that delivered strong results. Then you layer visibility on top of it, an article, a feature in a professional platform, a speaking engagement where you share what you learned. Over time, these layers add up to a body of evidence that cannot be ignored. This is how ordinary ability transforms into extraordinary proof.
In the U.S. market, where I am now based, the importance of this visibility is even more pronounced. Employers, investors, and even immigration systems place a high value on documented recognition. It is not enough to be excellent in the shadows; your excellence must be visible. That doesn’t mean chasing vanity metrics or hollow publicity. It means positioning your genuine expertise in ways that the market, and the world, can recognize and respect.

I’ve seen this shift unlock careers. A consultant who thought her work was too “everyday” discovered that her innovations in training methodology were not only original, but valuable enough to be featured in industry media. A startup founder who quietly built an app realized that showcasing his product in competitions and panels elevated him from a local entrepreneur to a recognized innovator. In each case, the work was already extraordinary. What was missing was the evidence trail.

This is why I emphasize that extraordinary ability is built. It is built in how you document your contributions. It is built in how you share your thought leadership through articles, speeches, and research. It is built when you step into global conversations, whether on LinkedIn, at conferences, or through collaborations, and allow your expertise to be measured against the highest standards.
And here is the most empowering part: the same framework that positions you for a visa like the O-1 or EB-1 is the framework that accelerates any career. When you learn to build evidence of your expertise, you don’t just open doors to immigration opportunities, you also attract clients, investors, and collaborators. You become a magnet for opportunities because the world can see, clearly, who you are and what you bring to the table.

My own recognition as a Top 1% talent on Upwork, my speaking invitations to global organizations, and my contributions to AI and HR-Tech in Africa and the U.S. were not accidents. They were built, layer by layer, with intentionality. Each article, each project, each partnership became part of the evidence. And today, I can look back and see a clear trajectory from where I started to where I am now.

So if you are reading this and wondering if “extraordinary ability” applies to you, the answer is yes, if you are willing to build it. Start documenting your wins. Start publishing your ideas. Start saying yes to opportunities that stretch your visibility. Extraordinary is not about being superhuman. It is about being visible, intentional, and consistent in showing the world the value you already carry.

Extraordinary ability is built, not claimed. And if you start building today, the world, whether through recognition, opportunities, or even immigration pathways, will have no choice but to acknowledge it.