Sacred Haven of Debauchery

In music school, I first felt genuine envy and admiration for another person's skill. It was the first time I forced myself to go on stage, even though I was terrified. It was the first time I won some kind of competition. This model of success was formed in music school, and later I applied the same approach to other areas. In short, the algorithm is as follows:

1. Find a master/living example that you admire and envy at the same time.
2. Become so passionate about the subject that you start to understand the details and devote a lot of time to it. Set a high bar. Don't aim for the average, but for the very best.
3. Put yourself in a situation where you have a concert/competition/event with a specific date. Where it's both scary and exciting at the same time.
4. Find a coach, other people who can provide quick feedback. Learn both in a group and directly from the master.
5. Start with small competitions and in areas where you can win.
6. Do this for a long time and every day. 2-3 years. Without this step, the other five won't work.

In this scheme, victory is an automatic consequence. Why? While everyone else is preparing for a regular exam to get a 4 or 5, you raise the bar. You are so passionate about the subject that you study it in all aspects, much better than others.