Smart and accomplished people can be weird.

Charles Dickens wrote only between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., in total silence, arranged specific statuettes and objects on his desk as "talismans" for inspiration, and always slept facing north to align with Earth's electrical currents.

In fact, when traveling he brought a compass with him so he could position his bed in accordance with this theory.

Nikola Tesla developed a deep emotional connection with New York City pigeons, especially one white pigeon he claimed he "loved as a man loves a woman." He was said to spend large sums caring for injured pigeons and letting them follow him into hotels.

I could go on, dear reader. I could go on.

These peculiar habits were personal quirks of these individuals, and I doubt you need to consider getting yourself a pet ocelot or forming deep emotional connections with pigeons.

But when I see patterns, when I find habits practiced nearly across the board by successful people, that's when I sit up and take notice.

If they all do A, B, and C, I'll bet there's a reason.

Learning what people who have been successful and who are otherwise admirable have in common in terms of habits is one of the reasons parents used to encourage their children to read biographies. It's part of the reason the Church teaches people to read the lives of the saints. These stories can be edifying, yes, but also immediately practical.

I know of nobody who is more fascinated by old success books, and who has read and absorbed more of their lessons, than Russell Brunson, himself an extremely successful entrepreneur.

And he's done something with them so we might make practical use of what they contain.

We could all stand to have a dose of humility: I don't know everything, I haven't precisely optimized my life for success, and maybe other people have something valuable to share with me.

Well, ol' Russell has distilled it all into this:

https://www.tomwoods.com/russell

Tom Woods