1. Preparation

Preparation is the first pillar upon which this success formula is built. As with the two other pillars, vision and action, the formula equates to zero if you don’t have it. Preparation can be as broad or narrow as you want it to be, depending what your life goals are. If you want to be successful as a subject matter expert, it will be important to dig deep into the topic and know all the facets of it. Alternatively if you are seeing success more broadly, you may want to focus on diversifying your experiences to establish a wider scope.

If you consider that success is built over time (small steps of success built upon one another), it dissolves the stress of achieving perfection quickly while forcing us to consider that we are in constant preparation for it. The road to success is continuous; meaning that we constantly need to prepare for the next crucial step in which our vision and action will require a new element. On a positive note, this means we can always get better; we can always improve our chances for success, it is never over because regardless of how old we are, there will always be chances to be successful. Therefore we should always be open to learn, experience and build character. The nicest way I have heard it say is by singer Melody Gardot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melody_gardot) in her song “Our love is easy”: “the poisoned vine, breeds a finer wine” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BNcTGU02FU). Another quote that represents this is George Bernard Shaw’s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Bernard_Shaw) quote: “Men are wise in proportion, not to their experience, but to their capacity for experience.”  Here he clearly focuses on the process, the road ahead, the “to be” versus the status quo, the “is”.

However, learning doesn’t seem to be the easiest for us humans. Although we are all capable of learning from experience, we seem to be reluctant to learn from others’ experiences. Obviously, our education system is built upon the process of learning from others, but this is a system pushed upon the pupil. According to Plato (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato) however, this doesn’t seem to be the best way “Bodily exercise, when compulsory, does no harm to the body; but knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.” The conclusion is indeed that part of the preparation of successful people is that they have an unbelievable eagerness to learn. The attitude of successful people is defined as a critical driver. And it is author Douglas Adams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_adams) who sarcastically points out that this ability to learn is not a general trait of mankind “Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from experience of others, are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.”

It is in quotes that I personally find the most valuable insights. A quote is usually a single sentence which has captured the essence of a lesson learned over time, tested by millions, recognized and valued by enough people who’ve shared it over decades and centuries and still stands the test of time. That to me is the definition of a lesson learned! Building on the foundation of the experiences of others allows successful people to focus on trying to break new ground, be innovative and creative and travel into uncharted territories.