“If you give me six hours to chop down a tree, I will spend the first four hours sharpening the ax.” – Abraham Lincoln

Always be prepared. Always be prepared. Always be prepared.

Whatever you want to do, sharpen your ax. If you want to become a great writer, hone your skills. If you want to become a good speaker, don't skip practicing. If you want to convince someone of something, take the time to understand their point of view.

You wouldn't cut down a tree with a dull ax. You also shouldn't pursue your passion, career, and dreams with a boring, outdated skill set. Preparation, truly preparation, often makes the difference between poor performers and successful people.