There's a wealth of information and knowledge you can gain from

When Grant Hill, the great athlete and thinker of sport, said, “There’s a wealth of information and knowledge you can gain from sitting down with people who are successful,” he was not merely offering career advice — he was revealing a principle of wisdom as old as civilization itself. His words are a reminder that true learning is not confined to books or institutions; it flows from experience, from the stories and struggles of those who have walked farther than we have. In this age of constant noise and distraction, Hill’s insight calls us back to one of the most sacred forms of learning: listening — the humble act of sitting before greatness and drawing from it strength, courage, and understanding.

The origin of this wisdom is rooted in Hill’s own life. Known not only for his skill on the basketball court but for his grace, intellect, and integrity, he grew up surrounded by people who embodied excellence — his father, Calvin Hill, a respected NFL player, and his mother, Janet Hill, a trailblazing businesswoman. Hill learned early that success leaves traces, and those traces can guide the attentive mind. In his words, we hear the echo of many mentors who shaped him: coaches, elders, and teammates whose lessons were not written in manuals, but spoken in moments of reflection, defeat, and triumph. For Hill, every conversation with the wise was a form of inheritance — not of wealth, but of understanding.

In saying that there is a wealth of knowledge in others’ experiences, Hill reminds us that humility is the key to growth. The proud man believes he must learn everything through his own victories; the wise man knows that life is too brief to make every mistake alone. To sit with someone who has endured, who has built, who has failed and risen again — this is to drink from a well that time itself has blessed. The ancients called such gatherings “symposia,” places where minds met and wisdom was exchanged like precious metal. And though our modern world has changed, the principle remains: those who seek counsel from the accomplished do not simply hear stories — they receive maps of endurance.

Consider the example of Alexander the Great, who, though he conquered nations, still sought wisdom from philosophers like Aristotle. It was through such dialogue that he learned not only tactics of war, but the art of leadership, justice, and restraint. His victories were born not only from the sword, but from the mind that listened before it acted. So too, in every generation, those who achieve greatness have first learned from those who came before. They have sat at the feet of elders, absorbed their lessons, and transformed them into new achievements. Thus, the chain of wisdom stretches through time, linking master to student, teacher to disciple — an unbroken lineage of learning.

Hill’s quote also speaks to the nature of true success — that it is not measured by trophies or fame, but by the ability to inspire others. The truly successful do not hoard their knowledge; they share it. They remember their own mentors and strive to become mentors in turn. This creates a cycle of growth that enriches not just individuals, but entire communities. When one generation listens, learns, and then teaches the next, knowledge multiplies, and the strength of a people deepens.

But to access this wealth, one must possess the humility to sit and listen. Too often, pride closes the door to learning. Many seek to speak rather than to understand. Yet wisdom flows to the quiet mind — the one that asks, that observes, that values presence over performance. To sit with a wise person is not to flatter them, but to honor the journey they have walked. It is to recognize that every scar holds a story, and every success, a lesson.

The lesson of Hill’s words is both simple and sacred: seek wisdom in others, and let gratitude guide your learning. Surround yourself with those who elevate your thinking, whose discipline and courage awaken your own. Do not fear to ask questions, and do not assume you already know. Every conversation with the wise is a doorway — one that leads from ignorance to insight, from imitation to inspiration.

So, let these words be carried forward like a torch: there is no greater treasure than the wisdom of experience, and no richer inheritance than the lessons of those who came before you. Sit with the successful, not to copy them, but to understand the spirit that moves them. Listen deeply, reflect humbly, and act boldly. For in every shared story lies a spark of greatness waiting to ignite the soul of the one who truly hears.