Usain Bolt said it right with this -
Learn to be street-smart.
Education is important, but being street-smart is just as useful - to my mind it’s what gives me an edge. And it’s something that’s always come naturally to me. There are a lot of people out there, and to be the best you have to make the most of every advantage. It’s about experience, and I’ve found travelling a lot has really helped.
Cannot understimate the importance of what I call ‘athletics smarts’ - that’s not the stuff out of a text book but the ability to think on your feet, making decisions based on one’s instinct from experience in the game. You cannot learn this any other way other than experience - and that includes mistakes you will make along the journey.