[jeromec]

people who are successful do not know how they became successful.

I'm afraid I don't follow. You're saying Warren Buffet, arguably the greatest investor of all time, doesn't know how he became successful? Or that some random chance gave him his uncanny investment insight? If that's the case why should we bother trying to control our lives at all? Why don't we just walk around with our eyes shut and hope luck drops into our lap?

[vannevar]

You're saying Warren Buffet, arguably the greatest investor of all time, doesn't know how he became successful?

Yes.

Or that some random chance gave him his uncanny investment insight?

Possibly. The point is neither we, nor he, know.

[W]hy should we bother trying to control our lives at all?

A good question. Without getting into philosophical questions of free will, I suspect the pragmatic answer is that there is at least a weak correlation between the publicized 'formula' for success and actual success, for the same reason that most lottery winners are repeat buyers. By doing something, you expose yourself to fate. And generally, any activity we can afford to keep doing will at least permit us to make a living, which is the outcome for most. After all, we can't all be Warren Buffet---not even the Warren Buffets of the world.

[jeromec]

I suspect the pragmatic answer is that there is at least a weak correlation between the publicized 'formula' for success and actual success

What is the publicized formula for success?

By doing something, you expose yourself to fate.

There are millions that do something with the stock market every week. Why is Warren Buffet the only one with his level of investment success?