One thing billionaire investor Michael Lee-Chin understood is that in order to be successful, you need a PhD:
Poor.
Hungry.
Driven.
Because success isn’t reserved for the smartest person in the room.
It’s reserved for the person who refuses to quit.
A lot of people think success comes from having the perfect education, the perfect opportunity, or the perfect connections.
But the truth is, there are people with degrees who never use them.
And there are people who started with very little and built incredible lives because they stayed disciplined.
They stayed hungry.
They stayed focused.
And they kept going when everyone else gave up.
That’s the part most people don’t talk about.
Success isn’t built on motivation.
It’s built on consistency.
It’s waking up and doing the work when you don’t feel like it.
It’s staying committed when the results aren’t showing yet.
It’s continuing to learn even when nobody is watching.
And it’s believing in yourself when nobody else does.
Stay humble enough to keep learning.
Hungry enough to keep growing.
And driven enough to keep moving forward no matter what obstacles show up.
Because at the end of the day, success doesn’t care where you started.
It doesn’t care how many times you failed.
It cares whether you had the discipline to keep going.
And that’s something every single person can control.
That’s the difference between people who dream about success and people who eventually achieve it.
From my own journey, I've found that success really hinges on maintaining discipline even when motivation fades. It's not about having the perfect degree or connections but about embracing a mindset that values growth and consistency every day. I remember times when I felt discouraged because results were slow or obstacles seemed too big. But recalling insights like those of Michael Lee-Chin—who emphasizes staying poor, hungry, and driven—helped me push through moments of doubt. Instead of waiting for motivation to strike, I formed habits that kept me moving forward even on tough days. Staying humble to keep learning is another crucial factor. Often, people with top degrees can become complacent, believing they already know enough. However, the real winners never stop seeking knowledge or improving skills quietly behind the scenes. Success demands this ongoing education, sometimes without applause or recognition. Additionally, believing in yourself when no one else does builds a unique kind of confidence that fuels perseverance. In my experience, this self-belief is what kept me going when friends or peers doubted my goals. In summary, success isn’t about where you begin or how talented you appear but about whether you have the discipline to keep going—with hunger, focus, and drive—even when everything in your environment suggests quitting. It's empowering to realize this means anyone can create their own path to achievement by embracing these core principles.