On Preparedness

I find it is much less disconcerting to fail when you have spent a lot of time preparing for an endeavor. It is like then you really actually tried something. If you just show up and fail- or even succeed- what is that? If you have not invested into a thing- what does your failure or succes give you? It gives you nothing, most times. If you fail without investing you fail before you begin- you fail when you do not invest- not when you see the failure at hand. And if you succeed without investment (in most things) what have you really gained?