This discussion always reminds me of a poem by Herbert Kauffman printed in "How I raised myself from failure to Success in Sales":

You are the man who used to boast

That you'd achieve the uttermost,

Some day.

You merely wished a show,

To demonstrate how much you know

And prove the distance you can go....

Another year we've just passed through

What new ideas came to you?

How many big things did you do?

Time...left twelve fresh months in your care

How many of them did you share

With opportunity and dare

Again where you so often missed?

We do not find you on the list of Makers Good.

Explain that fact!

Ah no, 'twas not the chance you lacked!

As usual-you failed to act!