Cal Newport wrote a book titled; "Be so good they can't Ignore you".
stafforini.com/docs/Newport%20-%20So%20good%20the…
Before I read the book, I use to go with the believe that "one must not have to over stress one self before one can be successful." This was back up with the adage that "what is mine, is mine. No one can take it from me". However, after I read the book and a few others (with this leading, you can give it a try), I realized that there is no shortcut to success aside hard-work.
Success without full career capital(skill), is worthless. And a miracle that presents its self when you aren't prepared is a waste; who out of the blues becomes a CEO without skills to keep him going?.
My biggest dream is to be fully ready and always having the best to offer; been so good that they can't Ignore me. This implicitly keeps me going.