--- title: 8 Things the Most Successful People Do That Make Them Great description: There’s a right way to learn. Want to be more successful? Actually, that’s not ambitious enough — want to be the best? I do. So... canonical: https://time.com/59658/8-things-the-most-successful-people-do-that-make-them-great/ author: Eric Barker article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-04-11T16:31:54.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T08:53:57.300Z article:section: Ideas og:title: 8 Things the Most Successful People Do That Make Them Great og:description: There’s a right way to learn. Want to be more successful? Actually, that’s not ambitious enough — want to be the best? I do. So... og:url: https://time.com/59658/8-things-the-most-successful-people-do-that-make-them-great/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb1100c62ab2674ea/69868a46adae442168542824/457998107.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5616 og:image:height: 3159 og:image:alt: 8 Things The Most Successful People Do That Make Them Great og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 8 Things the Most Successful People Do That Make Them Great twitter:description: There’s a right way to learn. Want to be more successful? Actually, that’s not ambitious enough — want to be the best? I do. So... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb1100c62ab2674ea/69868a46adae442168542824/457998107.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 8 Things the Most Successful People Do That Make Them Great > Sponsored content. 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Inside TIME is the newsletter where TIME's Editor-in-Chief explains cover selection and the editorial reasoning behind major stories. It is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who is the editor of TIME? Sam Jacobs is TIME's Editor-in-Chief. He writes Inside TIME, a twice-weekly newsletter about the newsroom's reporting and editorial decisions. #### Is Inside TIME free? Yes. Inside TIME is a free newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent. by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Apr 11, 2014 4:31 PM UTC  Businessman holding chess item Businessman holding chess itemGetty Images by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Apr 11, 2014 4:31 PM UTC **There’s a right way to learn.** **Want to be more successful? Actually, that’s not ambitious enough — want to be** [**the best**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/what-does-it-take-to-become-an-expert-at-anyt/)**?** I do. So I called my friend [Daniel Coyle](http://thetalentcode.com/), author of the best books on getting better at anything: [The Talent Code](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026OR1UK/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0026OR1UK&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20) and [The Little Book of Talent.](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007JC1RM2/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007JC1RM2&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20) Dan knows that the “[10,000 hour rule](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/12/being-the-best/)” is nice but **you need to align your effort with the way your brain was designed to learn.** **Hours are vital but you can get to mastery faster —** **_much_** **faster — by practicing the right way.** So how can you and I do that? Here are 7 steps experts use: ## **1) Be Uncomfortable** You learn best when you’re reaching. “[Flow](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/secret-enjoying-work/)” is great. But flow is not the best way to learn. **You want to be stretched to the edge of your ability. It needs to be hard. That’s how your brain grows.** Here’s Dan: --- > “” --- More on the best way for you to practice [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/06/what-type-of-practice-produces-peak-performan/). ## **2) Stop Reading. Start Doing.** **Keep the “Rule of Two-Thirds” in mind. Spend only one third of your time studying.** **The other two-thirds of your time you want to be doing the activity. Practicing. Testing yourself.** Get your nose out of that book. Avoid the classroom. Whatever it is you want to be the best at, be doing it. **The closer your practice is to the real thing, the faster you learn.** Here’s Dan: --- > “” --- More on how to shift from reading to doing [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/09/whats-the-best-way-to-learn-from-a-book/). ## **3) The Sweet Spot** **You want to be successful 60-80% of the time when training. That’s the sweet spot for improvement.** When learning is too hard, we quit. When it’s too easy… well, we quit then too. Always be upping the challenge to stay in that 60-80% zone. Here’s Dan: --- > “” --- More on how to find your sweet spot for learning [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/whats-the-sweet-spot-for-optimal-improvement/). ## **4) Commit To The Long Term** **Asking someone ”How long are you going to be doing this?” was the best predictor of how skilled that person would end up being.** Merely committing to the long haul had huge effects. Here’s Dan: --- > “” --- Commit to the long haul. Don’t give up. Even works for [mice](http://thetalentcode.com/2013/11/01/meet-resilient-mouse-your-new-superhero/): More on how long term commitment can take you to the next level [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/06/if-you-want-to-be-an-expert-what-little-thing/). ## **5) Find A Role Model** **Watching the best people work is one of the most powerful things you can do.** It’s motivating, inspiring and it’s how you were built to learn. Study the best to be the best. Here’s Dan: --- > “” --- More on finding the best mentor for you [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/02/mentor/). ## **6) Naps Are Steroids For Your Brain** **Napping isn’t for the lazy. It’s one of the habits of the most successful people in any field.** Sleep is essential to learning. Naps are a tool that will make you the best. Here’s Dan: --- > “” --- More on how astronauts use sleep to increase performance [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/sleep-astronauts/). ## **7) Keep a Notebook** Eminem keeps a journal. Peyton Manning keeps a journal. **Top performers track their progress, set goals, reflect and learn from their mistakes.** Here’s Dan: --- > “” --- More on how to use a notebook to be your best [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/strokes-of-genius/). ## **If You Only Remember Two Words From This…** Dan says the two key words are “Reach” and “Stare.” **Reach** **: Always push yourself to the edge of your ability.** **Stare** **: Look at those better than you and emulate them.** Here’s Dan: --- > “” --- **Sum Up** Sadly, you weren’t born an expert. But you can become one with [practice and time](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/interview-author-cal-newport-on-how-you-can-become-an-expert-and-why-you-should-not-follow-your-passion/). Start now. You’ll be amazed at [what you can achieve](http://thetalentcode.com/2013/07/18/to-improve-faster-think-like-a-startup/): **Join 45K+ readers.** Get a free weekly update via email [here](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD). Related posts: [What 10 things should you do every day to improve your life?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-10-things-should-you-do-every-day-to-imp) [8 Things The World’s Most Successful People All Have In Common](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/12/successful-people/) [How To Make Your Life Better By Sending Five Simple Emails](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/make-your-life-better/) _This piece originally appeared on_ [_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/)_._ ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/59658/8-things-the-most-successful-people-do-that-make-them-great/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/59658/8-things-the-most-successful-people-do-that-make-them-great/"},"headline":"8 Things the Most Successful People Do That Make Them Great","datePublished":"2014-04-11T16:31:54.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:53:57.300Z","description":"There’s a right way to learn. 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