Sometimes we need to be reminded of the basics. The simple things.

• After awhile you’ll probably already know everything you need to know to be successful in a particular field. The rest will be a matter of temperament (self-control). Success has a lot to do with self-control, and self-control has a lot to do with how well you know yourself. This requires moments of silence and solitude so you can reflect. This “down-time” is when we are able to put things into perspective. Without it we become like robots programmed by our social environment. We receive a lot of information, but we don’t always have a lot of understanding.

• If you find a sensible strategy that works, stick with it. Don’t change it unless you are sure it no longer works, or you’re sure you have found one that works better. “Short-cuts” often lead to dead-ends, or the long way around. Be sure the short-cut is actually a short-cut, otherwise stick with the path that’s more likely to work. Even if it takes you longer than you’d like.

• Warren Buffett has said that successful people say no to almost everything. This is wise. It’s also wise to say no to most of our own ideas. We have a tendency to get bored with what we are doing, or insecure, or greedy, and we start chasing things we should be saying no to.

• Time is the friend of the committed. Keep showing up, and time will reward you.