A blank paper, pristine white as it may be, has the potential. But if it insists on retaining it's pristine pride and not combine with the sketching pencils, the writing inks and the different colored paints, it's value stays limited to its potential. Only in coming together in combination & in synergy with the others does its real potential value consumate.
Said a sheet of snow-white paper, "Pure was I created, and pure I will remain for ever. I would rather be burnt and turn to white ashes than suffer darkness to touch me or the unclean to come near me."
The ink-bottle bottle heard what the paper was saying, and it laughed in its dark heart; but it never dared to approach her.
And the multicolored pencils heard her also, and they too never came near her.
And the snow-white sheet of paper did remain pure and chaste for ever, pure and chaste ... but empty. The classic Gibran twist.
However super your skills maybe , unless you learn to combine, synergise and work together to create greater value along with others, your potential shall only remain a potential and you will never succeed in creating greater value.
Silos never lead you to the winning stand. Silos topple the winning stand. Learn to run a winning race always along with others.