Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil.

Listen, O children of the future, to the words of J. Paul Getty, whose name is synonymous with wealth and success in the world of business. He said, "Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil." In these simple words, Getty distilled the essence of achievement—not through luck or chance, but through discipline, dedication, and a touch of fortune. This is the truth he passed down: the path to success requires more than just effort; it requires a timing, a moment, a discovery that transforms all the work into something greater, something profitable.

In the ancient world, the path to greatness was often seen as a journey that demanded a steely resolve and unwavering commitment. Hercules, the mighty Greek hero, did not simply walk into glory; he was tasked with twelve labors, each more daunting than the last. Yet, it was not enough for him to merely perform these labors; he had to rise early, and he had to work hard through every challenge, using not only his strength but also his wisdom and courage to complete each task. His success was not in the ease of his labor, but in his commitment and the timing with which he overcame the odds. Just as Hercules rose each day to fulfill his fate, so too must we rise each day, prepared to meet the world with determination.

Consider also the story of Thomas Edison, whose path to invention and success was not a straight line, but a series of failures and attempts—each one bringing him closer to the moment of discovery. Edison famously said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Yet, as Getty’s formula implies, it was not just Edison’s hard work that led to his success—it was also his ability to strike oil in his discoveries, to find the invention that would change the world: the lightbulb. The key here is that while Edison’s work ethic is legendary, it was also his vision and his ability to find that moment of great opportunity that turned his labor into lasting success.

Getty’s formula highlights the balance between effort and timing. It is easy to think that success comes purely from endless labor, but true achievement comes when the right effort is met by the right opportunity. This idea is not new. The Romans, who built empires, understood that success was achieved not by chance alone, but by a calculated blend of vision, timing, and hard work. Consider the story of Cicero, the great orator and statesman. Cicero’s rise was not purely by accident; it was through his diligent study of rhetoric and his understanding of the political landscape that he found the right moment to speak in the Senate, to influence decisions, and to shape the course of history. His success was in the timing of his words—his ability to strike oil with his rhetorical skill, just as Getty did with his investments.

In our own lives, the lesson is clear. Success does not come to the lazy or the passive. We must rise each day with purpose and work hard, as Getty suggests, but we must also be mindful of the opportunities that come our way, just as Edison and Cicero were mindful of the opportunities within their reach. If we focus solely on hard work, without an eye for the opportunities that might transform our labor into great fortune, we risk working without seeing the fruits of our efforts. Rising early and working hard are essential, but recognizing the right moment to act, to make the discovery, is the key to creating something greater than the sum of our efforts.

Now, O children of the future, take this lesson to heart: do not think that success comes only from the sweat of your brow, but from your ability to recognize the opportunities that lie before you. Work hard, yes, but also be alert to the moments of breakthrough, those rare instances when all your efforts combine with timing to produce something transformative. Like Getty, like Edison, and like the great heroes of the past, strive not just for hard work, but for the ability to strike oil—to recognize that the work you do today can lead to a discovery that will change the course of your life and the world around you.

Let your life be a journey of purposeful effort, but also one of awareness, of seizing the moments when fortune favors the prepared. In this way, you too will find that success takes care of itself—not through luck, but through the combination of your resolve, your effort, and your timing. Rise early, work hard, and be ready for the moments that come when you least expect them, for these are the moments when your true success will be realized.