Most of us turn our backs on a golden opportunity. We spurn it. We go out of our way to avoid it. It is the opportunity to learn from those who know.

For example, few of us ask our parents how they achieved what they did. Oh, we know what jobs they held. We know what work they did. We usually don’t know many of the details. Because we don’t or didn’t ask.

How did you get promoted? How did you build your assets? Where did you learn…? How did you outmaneuver…? How did you talk them into letting you…? Where did you get the idea of…? What went into building the…? Where did you find the time to…? What mistakes did you…? What frightened you the most? Who helped you, and how? What did you learn from…?

We don’t ask.

Few of us have the courage to ask those we admire “How do you do it? How did you achieve this?”

People who would like to grow wealthy rarely ask those who have built wealth how they did it.

People who would like to gain powerful positions rarely ask those who have done so how they did it.

People who wish to be successful in their work rarely ask others how they achieved their success.

People who would like to build a business rarely ask those who have done so how they did it.

People who want to lose lots of weight rarely ask those who have done so how they did it. Or they will ask, but show no interest in the details.

People who seek peace of mind rarely ask those who have, how they did so.

A man I know has achieved success in many areas: Wealth. Status in his profession and in his community. Knowledge. Solid marriage. Children who are decent human beings. A philosophy of giving much of his wealth to those in need. Joy. Satisfactions galore.

He has hundreds of friends, hundreds more acquaintances, thousands of admirers. Have any ever asked him how he achieved any of this? “Not one,” he told me. “No one has been curious enough to ask.”

Are people too intimidated to ask? Are they afraid the answers might make them feel inferior?

Well, we can ask the questions. But are those we admire willing to answer? You bet they are. Most of them are dying to teach others the lessons they learned.

This is why our superstars in every field write biographies. They want others to know how they did what they did.

This is why thousands of successful people write their stories and pay good money to self-publish them. They hand out copies to relatives and friends. They want somebody to know how they did it. Somebody, anybody. Their own kids never asked. And showed little interest when they (Mom and Dad) volunteered how they did it. They hope that maybe the kids will someday get around to reading the books. Or maybe their grandkids will.

All around us are highly successful people. Most would be flattered if you asked them to share how they achieved their success.

And to paraphrase Yogi, you can hear a lot just by listening.

From Tom...as in Morgan.