The only way to get to the next level is to do more than is expected of you. You'll get out of life, relationships, business, dreams what you put into them. Set goals for yourself, and do everything you can to achieve them. It's a horrible feeling to arrive at a deadline or event, look back on your efforts, and feel like there is more you could have done to be successful. This is especially true if you didn't get your desired outcome. Whatever you are working towards, give it everything you've got. That way when you look back, regardless of the outcome, you'll be proud of the effort you made and know there was nothing more you could have done. You'll have successes. You'll have failures. But if you give it 100%, you'll see victory a lot more than you'll see defeat.