1.- Lack of Motivation: Do We Really Want to Learn?

One of the most common reasons we don’t learn enough from successful individuals is a genuine lack of motivation. This happens because our priorities are often not aligned with learning.

For example, people who attend evening classes often do so more for social or recreational reasons than to learn something that will radically transform their lives. While these motivations are valid, they explain why we do not always actively seek the knowledge that would take us further.

Additionally, not everyone wants to become a “success beast.” However, they often want to enjoy some of the benefits of others’ success, such as gaining financial advantages. As Robert Kiyosaki notes in Rich Dad, Poor Dad:

“I have several friends who have generated over a billion dollars in their short lifetimes. The three of them report the same phenomenon: Their friends who have no money have never come to them to ask them how they did it. But they do come asking for one of two things, or both: a loan, or a job.”

2.- The Inherent Difficulty of Complex Learning

The evolutionary science of social learning explains that learning from others is less costly than learning individually. However, learning from the best is not as simple as copying someone’s answers on an exam.

For example, imagine you admire Slash, the legendary guitarist from Guns N’ Roses. Even if you wear his iconic hat or use the same guitar, you will never be able to play like him unless you first dedicate hours to mastering the basics.

Anthropological studies suggest that complex learning occurs in two stages:

1. Learning from accessible figures. In the early stages, we learn from those close to us, such as parents, friends, or peers.
2. Learning from experts. Once we reach an intermediate level, we can benefit from studying the best in the field.

This implies that attempting to learn directly from the most successful individuals without first developing some basic competency can be a waste of time.

3. Inaccessibility: When the Best Are Out of Reach

Another significant barrier is the difficulty of accessing successful individuals, as they tend to be extremely busy, and their schedules do not always allow time to help others.

However, not all successful individuals are unreachable. As Fraser Doherty notes in 48-Hour Startup:

“Throughout my career, I’ve been amazed at how willing successful entrepreneurs are to share what they’ve learned with those who are trying to climb up the ladder behind them.”

In my personal experience, getting professional advice from successful scientists is relatively easy.

The key is knowing how to approach them. Many successful people enjoy sharing their knowledge with those who show genuine interest and a willingness to learn.

4.- Envy and Resentment: The Invisible Enemy of Learning

Envy and resentment toward successful individuals are powerful psychological barriers. These feelings prevent us from admiring and learning from people who have achieved goals we have yet to reach.

Some economists suggest that envy toward the wealthy is a key factor behind the prevailing anti-capitalist attitudes in certain intellectual circles. Additionally, studies in evolutionary psychology have shown that envy plays a significant role in supporting government policies aimed at wealth redistribution.

A similar phenomenon occurs in the romantic sphere. Many men and women feel envious and resentful toward those who are more popular or successful in the romantic and sexual marketplace. This attitude deprives them of valuable opportunities to learn from these more attractive or popular individuals, which could be invaluable in improving their own appeal.

Mario Luna, in Psicología del Éxito, offers a clear solution:

“Replace envy with admiration. Envy programs you for failure; admiration, for success.”

Achieving this shift requires conscious effort. Instead of negatively comparing yourself to others, use their success as a source of inspiration for your own personal growth.

Mario Luna himself recounts in his first book, Sex Code, how he once envied a physically unattractive and non-wealthy man who had incredible success with women. Later, he transformed his envy into admiration, which led him to learn a great deal from that man and motivated him to keep improving in the field of seduction.

5. Poor Learning Ability

Learning from others requires specific skills, such as identifying relevant information, integrating it with your previous knowledge, and applying it effectively. Many people have not developed these skills enough, making it difficult for them to maximize the lessons from successful individuals.

An experimental study I previously mentioned on this website showed that the people who learn best from successful individuals are also those who are good at learning independently. Therefore, improving your overall learning ability will enhance your ability to benefit from social learning.

6.- Egocentric Discounting: Ignoring Valuable Knowledge from Others

Egocentric discounting is the tendency to give more value to information we obtain ourselves than to information provided by others.

For example, an entrepreneur might ignore a mentor’s advice on avoiding common mistakes, thinking their situation is unique. This phenomenon is widespread and well-documented in psychological studies on social learning and the acceptance of advice.

Why does it happen? One probable cause is that information obtained firsthand is often perceived as more relevant than information from others. However, egocentric discounting often prevents people from reaching higher levels of success by disregarding valuable insights from more successful individuals.

Remember: Recognizing the value of others’ experiences can save you time and help you avoid costly mistakes.

Final Reflection: Start Today and Share the Knowledge

What can you do today to learn from someone successful? Maybe send a message, read a book about their journey, or analyse their strategies in more detail. The important thing is to start breaking down the barriers that prevent you from making the most of these opportunities.

But don’t stop there. Think about who else in your circle could benefit from these ideas. Sharing this article with a friend, colleague, or family member could help them overcome their own obstacles—and strengthen your learning and growth network. Because when we share knowledge, we all grow.