To excel at something useful, focus on choosing valuable skills, finding ones that align with your talents, dedicating time to practice, and increasing opportunities by being in the right place at the right time. Valuable skills can include organization building, communication, research, earning to give, and government and policy. It's essential to expect the learning process to take time and to seek good mentorship. Increasing chances for success involves being in a field that's rapidly expanding or being part of a community with momentum.