Success in my experience requires the following elements: A clear, stretch goal. If the goal is too easy, it won’t feel like an achievement; if it’s unrealistic, you’ll never do the work. Love for what you’re doing. Very hard work, often over a long period of time. A sense of realism about the world, and your own limitations. As we used to say at Microsoft: you can't boil the ocean. Nor can you make people come back from the dead. Flexibility and perseverance -- you’ll need to adapt to the curve balls life will throw at you. …And, often, a bit of luck.
