The impressive result deserves interest in the conditions that made it repeatable.

CREATIVITY

WHAT THIS MEANS

A result on its own tells you very little. The interesting question is what made it possible: the tools, the support, the luck, the time available, the ten quiet failures beforehand, and whether any of it could be arranged again. Admiration stops at the outcome while curiosity goes looking for the conditions. Only the second is any use to you.

When something impresses you, ask what had to be true for it to happen. Ask the person directly if you can, since most people enjoy that question more than praise. Then look at which of those conditions you could build where you are.

A QUESTION TO SIT WITH

Behind whose success have you never asked about the conditions?

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