India, Sept. 11 -- Two colleagues once eyed the same opportunity, a project with no clear owner, just sitting there waiting for someone to step in.

One spent three weeks preparing. Taking notes, reading up, thinking through what could go wrong, waiting for someone to notice her and hand her the reins. The other simply started. She sent the first email, called the first meeting, asked questions she didn't know the answers to, and made the first mistake in full view of everyone.

By the time the first one felt ready, the second was already leading the project.

This isn't a story about one being smarter or more capable. They were both good at their jobs. The difference was smaller and stranger than that. One was waiting to be chosen. The o...