Achieving excellence and reaching the highest levels of success demands considerable personal effort and internal strength. It involves a process of continuous self-improvement through relentless discipline, humility, and diligent preparation.

According to James Patterson in his book Invisible, success also requires facing one's shortcomings head-on: "But to be the best, to reach the pinnacle, requires self-denial, sacrifice, discipline, humility, and preparation. You have to hurt yourself, scold yourself, analyze yourself, recognize your weaknesses at the same time you try to eliminate them." This underscores the importance of introspection and hard work in the pursuit of greatness.