Hands up who wants to do all the work themselves, without any help, intervention or resources to make it any easier. Well, that will be . . . no one then.

So, how come so many people do just that?

Going solo?

Reinhold Messner was the first person to successfully climb Mount Everest solo (in 1980). Do you know why? Because he’s a nutter! Actually, he’s widely regarded as the greatest climber of all time, so I thought I would find out more about him. It turns out that when he climbed Everest solo, he had a brilliant team of people helping with the planning, research and setting up for the climb.

So, step one is, even if you a supremely good at something, you still have to surround yourself with the right people.

Next, did he climb Everest in any old climbing gear? No, he had the very best equipment money could buy, some of it specifically designed for this kind of hazardous trip.

Finally, had he just taken up mountaineering? Of course not; he’d been climbing since his childhood. By his early twenties he was regarded as one of Europe’s best climbers. By 1970 he was climbing previously unclimbed faces in the Himalayas. And two years before his first solo ascent of Everest, he was the first to climb Everest without oxygen. He was immersed in climbing, he lived and breathed and practised and prepared and pushed his limits.

So, if you’re going to achieve your brilliant vision I suggest you take a leaf out of Mr Messner’s book and . . .

Surround yourself with a brilliant team

If you want to know how successful you are going to be at achieving your goals, take a good look at the five people whom you spend most of your time with. Do they inspire you? Could they achieve the goals you want to achieve?

I have a friend who really wants to quit smoking but she spends most of her spare time with three friends who are smokers. She isn’t exactly setting herself up for success with that one, is she?

In order to achieve your vision, start to spend time with people who inspire you. It’s amazing to think that you massively increase your chances of success just by spending time with different people.

Terry Laybourne is, in my opinion, one of the best chefs in Britain. When I asked him how he got to be so brilliant, he modestly said: ‘Hard work and a bit of luck.’ Pressing him further I found that one of the things he did was to continuously surround himself with other brilliant chefs.

When he worked in a five-star hotel in Switzerland he took ‘a break’ by working in a famous fish restaurant in Newcastle. He wanted to learn from the best. And guess what? He still has that attitude. So, rather than deter other chefs (perhaps competitors), he asks them to ‘guest’ in his kitchen at a special night or as part of an annual food festival.

By finding the right people to spend time with you will raise your game. You’ll be surprised at how much that will help you.

But what if you believe they don’t want to lend a hand? You need to use these magic words: ‘I need your help.’ I believe there is an inbuilt programme in most people that clicks into gear when they hear those words. Test it – you’ll love the results as people do whatever they can to help you.

Get the right kit

What equipment do you need? Go for the best you can afford. If you need a computer get a fast, reliable one. If you need internet access go for the fastest you can afford. If you need some specialist items to do what you need to do, then invest in them.

If you have to write, use a good pen and record your actions in a journal. Finally, if you need to get something designed, get a designer to do it. It saves time and looks so much better.

Knowledge is king

Ultimately, get the best knowledge. We have never lived in better times for having abundant knowledge around us. The biggest challenge we have these days is too much information.

So, make a commitment to seeking out the knowledge that you need and make the most of every learning opportunity, whether formal or informal. Here’s how to get the best out of some of the key methods of learning.

Classroom

Sit as close to the front and centre as you can. Commit to turning up for every session. Get there early. Take lots of notes. Ask questions – especially the daft ones that everyone else was thinking but only you would dare to ask. Reread your notes immediately after the class and before the next one. Do homework on the day you get it.

Reading

Mentally rehearse reading before you do it. Read with a highlighter pen and good-quality blue or red pen. Highlight the bits that jump out or need further clarification. Make notes in the margin. Write to the author.

Did you know that if you read 100 books on a specialist subject and digested the information, you could become one of the top 10 experts in the world in that field?

Coaching

Be open; it’s not your job to know all the answers. Ask for advice and don’t be intimidated by a coach who says, ‘How would you do it?’ when you ask them a question. Take lots of notes. Replay what you have learned to check you understood it.

Audio

A fantastic way to learn, but your mind will wander. Again, take notes. Be prepared to listen to each CD or download several times. Find a picture of the person presenting the programme and visualise them speaking. If you can’t get a picture, create in your mind a picture of your best ever trainer and see them presenting the audio.

Observation

Be like the meerkat and keep your head up. Notice what people are doing. Study the causes and effects. Ask people questions. Listen carefully to the answers.

Video, DVD and TV

Watch at a desk. Schedule how much time is needed. Imagine you are there with the presenter. Find the pause and rewind buttons and use them. Watch in a small group and discuss the outcomes.

Learning, and becoming an expert, is a surefire way to help you achieve your goals. The knowledge you gain will propel you at ever higher speeds and enable you to achieve your goals more effectively.

When you have the right resources, you will feel more comfortable about starting your journey. You may have to pick some more up on the way but it’s vital to ensure you have what you need around you to make your vision a reality.