This is not the first time I've heard this sentiment, and I still struggle to internalize it. How is it that the "real stars making things happen for the good of the organization" don't look "good on paper"?
There are many paths to success and there is no one right answer. Here is my humble viewpoint on this for the younger cats:
1) Find a few people they look up to that have made O-4 already and get their PRFs,
1a) You should look at these PRFs and go, "Holy Shit!", if you don't...find a different one.
1b) At some point along the way, you should find a few sharp O-5's (by most people's standards already a successful career) that are aiming at full bird and start doing this with theirs.
2) Starting with your very first OPR, start writing your own PRF,
2a) With each iteration, compare it to the completed PRFs you acquired from your mentors (identify the "white space" in yours that needs to be filled),
2b) With each OPR, replace weaker content with your stronger content (you are creating a super OPR that covers your career, get guidance on what PRFs look like...there are multiple versions that work).
3) Work very hard to ensure that every single OPR has something worthy of filling in that "white space"...a good OPR may have many things,
3a) By identifying the "white space" and looking at your examples, you should have an idea of what kinds of things you'll need to seek out to do
3b) Be your own person and steer towards what interests you, this will help keep your motivation and passion along the way (the military doesn't change that much though, innovation be damned).
4) Continue this until you have a PRF that's as good, if not better, than your mentor's to meet your board with.
4a) Many people think that doing a good job in what you're handed is enough. If you only do what is asked of you, you will be successful...but, you will NEVER fulfill your potential. This is why you don't want "endless potential" written on your shit. It says you could, but you don't.
5) If you are a "real star that is making things happen for the good of the organization", and you don't look good on paper...you may be a "real star", but you are also likely an idiot. At a minimum, people in the know have seriously let you down along the way. A lot of your peers found (likely sought out) people that did no such things.
You must do well at the things that are tasked to you, you must go beyond the minimum, and you must seek out opportunity. If you do not, do not complain about being in a situation where no one gives two shits if your PRF for the next board has a narrative or not. If you do everything you can, and it still doesn't work out...shut up and enjoy your paycheck flying the line and teaching the young guys (there are plenty of guys who won't get continuation or get tossed to the curb just shy of the finish line).
Bendy