The ability to read (and the more you do the more you comprehend?), life long curiosity, and a questioning nature can “take” someone a long way.
I am sometimes bothered a higher percentage of the athletes I coach do not “get” that only a fraction of what I am trying to do applies directly and solely to Athletics. Time management springs to mind, progression from where you are now to where you want to be following a plan with goals is not only to have you running in the 10s next year.
Any chance of links to those Calvesi articles?