As a musician and writer, I’ve given a lot of thought to the idea of success. In my younger days, success meant a record deal and large arenas filled with screaming fans. Now that I’m older, success looks quite different to me. But I want to talk about success in the more traditional sense because there is still a part of me that thinks about it in this way. I’m no longer interested in a rock star lifestyle, but I am interested in having a significant impact on broad scale.

Last week, I had lunch with a young man who I believe has the potential to achieve real success as a musician. He recently took part a 10-day workshop in LA where he worked closely with several highly successful individuals in the music industry. During this time, he heard their stories about their climb up the ladder of success. As he told me about them, several ideas emerged that seem consistent with those who made it. Here they are:

1. Talent is secondary. Now that doesn’t mean it’s not important. It’s just that exceptional talent is a given among those who are competing for the top spots.

2. Networking is critical. The path to success has become so complex that you need someone who knows the system to open the doors and show the way.

3. Character counts. If networking is the path to success, character determines how far you go on it. Traits like simple kindness, the ability to cooperate, humility, and generosity will open doors that will close to equally talented people without them.

4. Location creates opportunity. Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York are the key locations for musicians hoping to make it big. Moving there doesn’t guarantee anything, but it puts you in the place were the networks are formed and the opportunities are found.

There is no surefire secret to success. It’s an unscientific combination of ability, opportunity, timing, and a mysterious thing some people call luck. Very few people make it, most people don’t. That’s just the way it is. But it does seem that these four ideas are consistently present in the lives of those who achieve success.

Thinking about my own pursuit of success in my younger days, I recognize that I was completely ignorant of all four of these ideas. I hope the fact that my young friend understands these things will pay off for him. Time will tell.