Boggs - Have you got what it takes?: successful people reveal how they made it to the top

During the thirty years Ive spent in show business, Ive had the privilege of interviewing thousands of famous and influential people, and Ive always been fascinated by the enduring mystery of what makes one person more successful than another.

When you see a group of talented dancers in a music video, why do you suppose one goes on to become a star while the others fall by the wayside? Take any group of inexperienced interns at a major corporation: why does one aspiring mogul break away from the pack, soar past all competition, and end up running the whole company?

Is it merely a matter of a given individual being more talented than the rest? Is the person who succeeds simply just better at self-invention? Or luckier? What internal qualities or external resources does it take to triumph over obstacles? Is there some aspect of personality or characteroptimism, perhaps, or stamina, or maybe just a stubborn refusal to accept defeatthat elevates certain contenders above countless rivals? Is it a question of passion, drive, hard work? Is it about who you know?

Of course, its all of these things, and more. Determined to unlock the secrets of success, I set out on a mission to discover the hidden factors that have catapulted some of our eras most highly regarded leaders to the top in a wide range of fields. Over the course of a year, I interviewed forty-four different people, andperhaps unsurprisinglyI heard forty-four different versions of what it takes.

In the case of Mark Burnett, the groundbreaking producer who pioneered reality television with mega-hits like Survivor and The Apprentice, his instinct for choosing projects that resonated with his own personal passions infused his work with tremendous energy. Diane von Furstenberg is convinced that her fearlesslessa priceless gift bestowed upon her by her mother, a Holocaust survivoris the quality that propelled her to become one of the most famous fashion designers in the world. Bill OReilly, host of the provocative FOX News show The OReilly Factor as well as a best-selling author, set out to conquer television and made every sacrifice necessary to reach that goal. Having turned himself into a household name, he credits his ability to persevere and keep his eye laser-focused on his objective. Bill Bratton, the only person to become police commissioner of the NYPD and also chief of the LAPD, believes that his achievements are the result of his relentless hunger for new challengesa deep-seated drive that motivates him to seek ever-more-demanding assignments.

In tracking down such nuggets of self-knowledge, my quest took me from the Yankees spring training camp in Tampa, where I interviewed the teams legendary manager Joe Torre, to the Embarcadero district of San Francisco, where I met with Tom Perkins, the venture-capital lion of Silicon Valley. I sat backstage at NBCs Today show with co-host Matt Lauer, walked the hallowed halls of the New York Times with Op-Ed columnist Frank Rich, and visited songwriter Diane Warren s platinum-record-lined offices in Hollywood. Throughout my travels, my objective was to elicit the crucial insights that could guide and galvanize others.

Youll hear from Sir Richard Branson, the billionaire who set out to change the world by revolutionizing one industry at a time, and who has since become a leader in fields that range from music to aerospace. Youll learn what I was told by former New York governor Mario Cuomo, who invoked the immigrant legacy of his Italian parents in explaining his compulsion to outwork anyone. Ill share what I heard from Anna Quindlen, the Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist and novelist who, despite countless accolades, confesses that even now she sometimes secretly feels like a fraud.

Youll discover the early beginnings of celebrities like Joy Behar, who only found the courage to get up onstage when she was so broke that she had no choice. Youll peek inside the heart and mind of Academy Award-winning actress Rene Zellweger, whose fierce commitment to creative fulfillment trumps any amount of fame or fortune. Andspeaking of TrumpIll share with you what that indefatigable icon of success himself, Donald Trump, had to say about how he became the multi-industry powerhouse he is today.

My goal in writing this book is to share their insights and others in order to help you when you find yourself temporarily stymied, or simply unsure of how to proceed in pursuing your own dreams. The book is organized around the most consistent themes that emerged from dozens of in-depth conversations, so you can zero in on the topics that most interest you. Interwoven throughout are additional smart tips and fascinating tales, along with some personal stories about my own career and the lessons Ive learned.

For those of you who are just starting out in the work world, there is valuable advice on getting hired, making decisions, seizing opportunity, sustaining the will to prevail, and more. For those who are already on their way, stories about hard work, taking risks, and collecting wisdom abound. Those facing challenges along the road to success will be heartened by the inspirational examples of champions who learned how to triumph over fear, insecurity, adversityand their own mistakes.

All of the industry leaders I interviewed were willing to share their hard-won wisdom and insights into the personal qualities they developed that enabled them to succeed in their particular realm. Since each individuals path and personality is unique, what one person swears is essential for success might be the polar opposite of what another equally illustrious person says. Taken together, however, their insights provide an invaluable primer on successand how to achieve it. I hope that you will glean whatever is particularly relevant to your own quest.

We all know people who are disappointed when success proves elusive, often for reasons they dont fully understand. In sharing the secrets of some of todays greatest achievers, my goal is to instruct and inspire everyone who would like to follow in their footsteps.

My own life has long been enhanced by the amazing lessons Ive learned from some of the most impressive people in the country, who have succeeded in fields ranging from the entertainment industry to sports to business and beyond. I hope youll be able to use the practical wisdom, animating values, and inspiring examples provided in these pages to enrich your own life, and put you on the path toward accomplishing your highest goals.

Bon Voyage!

Bill Boggs
July 2006
New York City