How have some people broken the shackles of their circumstances to achieve extraordinary things? Can success be taught, or does it depend on talent alone? What role does luck play? Through more than 250 interviews with leaders in sport, business, war and politics, Greg Mills and Emanuele Pirro distil the ingredients of success and, conversely, the causes of failure. From rugbys triumphant Springboks to winning Formula 1 drivers, presidents guiding negotiations, generals on the battlefield, and businesspeople building empires in the boardroom and on the street, successful people trust their instincts, focus on the things that will make a difference to their performance, and leave nothing to chance. With wide-ranging stories of achievement from around the globe, The Essence of Success is insightful, entertaining and empowering. As multiple Olympic gold-medallist Sir Chris Hoy told the authors, The only person you have to beat is yourself, yesterday.