No One Is Born Successful. It’s All Learned

We tend to think of successful people as being somehow different. Special. Gifted. We imagine they were born with more talent, better timing, or a clearer path than the rest of us. But what if that’s not true at all? What if success isn’t about being born lucky—it’s about learning how to make your dream real? In her inspiring and strongly practical book Success in 7 Steps, Dierdre Wolownick breaks down the myth that success is inherited or reserved for a chosen few. Her message is simple but powerful: anyone can succeed—if they’re willing to learn how. With a lifetime of achievements behind her—including climbing Yosemite’s El Capitan at age 66, founding an orchestra, and becoming a published author in multiple languages—Dierdre is living proof that success isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build, step by step. And it starts with a decision: Do you want to just dream, or do you want to learn how to achieve?

From the very first page, Dierdre makes it clear that this book isn’t about being inspirational for the sake of it. It’s a how-to manual. A tool. A blueprint. Her goal isn’t to make you feel better—it’s to help you do better. And it begins by understanding that success doesn’t come from personality, privilege, or even passion. It comes from learning—and applying—structure. “There’s only one real pre-requisite to making your dream a reality,” she writes. “You have to really, really want it. The rest can be learned.” That’s the main idea behind Success in 7 Steps. Whether you want to run a business, publish a book, switch careers, or become an artist, your journey begins not with talent, but with willingness. Willingness to explore, to plan, to commit—and most of all, to learn.

What makes Dierdre’s approach stand out from typical success books is its clear, repeatable structure built on three essential categories: what you need to know, what you need to have, and what you need to do. These steps aren’t just suggestions—they form the backbone of her entire method. Without this order, dreams remain vague and unattainable. As she emphasizes, “All the ‘baby steps’ in the world won’t get you anywhere if you don’t know how to arrange them. Success is all about structure. Organization.” Her framework transforms lofty ambitions into practical, doable plans that actually lead to results. Want to write a novel? Start with learning about genre, publishing, and word count expectations. Then gather what you’ll need—a quiet writing space, tools, maybe a critique group. Only then should you start drafting. Trying to skip straight to “doing” without understanding and preparation? That’s where most people fail. This method isn’t magic—it’s common sense, delivered with clarity and warmth. And the best part? It works for any dream, any age, any background.

A major theme in the book is knowing yourself. Dierdre believes that before you can move forward, you have to understand who you are, what’s holding you back, and why your dream matters. That’s why she includes “Exploration” sections filled with journaling prompts—tools to discover your limiting beliefs, passions, and purpose. She writes, “We all have bad days, busy days. On the days when you can’t give 100%, give 20%, or even 5%. But whatever you do, don’t give 0%.” This mindset is part of the learning process—building consistency, not perfection. The more you learn about yourself, the more momentum you build. Even your failures become fuel. That’s something Dierdre experienced firsthand: when her first publisher went bankrupt, she didn’t stop. She learned how to become a publisher herself, launching a new chapter of her life. Not because she was ready, but because she was willing to learn.

One of the most powerful stories in Success in 7 Steps is about Dierdre saying “yes” to opportunities she didn’t feel prepared for. She became a podcast guest before she even knew what podcasts were. She took over publishing duties before understanding what a publisher did. Every time her “cosmic circles” collided with chance, she leaned in—not because she had the answers, but because she had the attitude to find them. That’s what success really requires: not fearlessness, but teachability. The ability to say, I don’t know how yet—but I’ll learn. This mindset shift turns every “I can’t” into “I haven’t learned it yet.” It gives power back to the reader and replaces helplessness with possibility.

Dierdre’s personal examples drive home a core belief: it is never too late to learn something new and do something incredible. She climbed El Cap at 66. She started painting in her later years. She created a symphony orchestra with no formal training in conducting. These weren’t random strokes of luck—they were goals she built one step at a time, using the same method she now shares in this book. She reminds us that momentum, not mastery, is what moves us forward. “Just show up,” she says. Do what you can. Learn what you need. Keep going. With each tiny step, you become more capable. More confident. More successful.