"ينبغي للرجل الحكيم أن يسير دائمًا على طريق العظماء ويقلد أولئك الذين هم الأكثر تميزًا."

The essence of this quote is pretty straightforward: if you want to achieve greatness, look to those who have already succeeded and follow their example. It’s a practical piece of advice that suggests you don’t always have to carve out a completely new path when there are already proven methods that work. Essentially, take cues from the best and apply their strategies to your own life.

This idea has probably been around for as long as humans have been trying to improve themselves. Think about it—you don’t always need to reinvent the wheel. If someone has already figured out how to do something exceptionally well, why not learn from their experience? This quote might have been particularly relevant in times when mentorship and apprenticeship were key ways of learning trades and skills, as people would work closely with masters to become proficient themselves.

Let’s bring this concept to life with a real-world example. Consider Serena Williams, one of the greatest tennis players of all time. When she and her sister Venus were young, their father, Richard Williams, had them study tapes of tennis legends like Billie Jean King and Arthur Ashe. They didn’t just play the game—they analyzed the best players, mimicked their techniques, and incorporated those strategies into their own training. By following the paths of these great athletes, the Williams sisters developed into dominant players themselves. It wasn’t about copying every move but rather understanding the principles that made these players successful and adapting those principles to their own unique styles and strengths.

So, how can you take this wisdom and apply it to your own life? First, identify what area you want to excel in. It could be anything—your career, a sport, a hobby, or even personal development. Once you know your focus, seek out the people who have excelled in that area. Read their biographies, watch interviews, follow their work closely. What habits do they have? What strategies do they employ? What setbacks did they face, and how did they overcome them? Use this information to shape your own approach. You don’t have to do exactly what they did, but you can adapt their successful strategies to fit your situation.

Imagine you’re trying to become a great writer. Instead of starting from scratch, look at authors you admire. How do they structure their stories? What is their writing process like? Maybe you find out that one of your favorite authors writes every morning before doing anything else. You could try setting aside time each morning to write, mimicking their routine. You might discover methods that resonate with you and boost your productivity.

Alright, let’s think about this in a more personal scenario. Imagine you’re at a coffee shop with a friend who’s just started a new job and feels overwhelmed. They want to make a good impression but aren’t sure where to start. You might suggest they look around the office and find someone who’s been there a while and is clearly successful. Maybe it’s the team lead who always seems to have everything under control. Your friend could observe how this person handles meetings, how they interact with colleagues, and what kind of work ethic they display. By following in their footsteps, your friend could pick up valuable insights and strategies to help them navigate their new role more effectively.

So, the next time you’re facing a challenge or looking to improve, remember—you don’t have to go it alone. There’s wisdom in walking the path that’s already been trodden by those who have reached the heights you aspire to.