Old Citizen, Dr Ben Levy was the first speaker in this year’s City Ready lecture series, addressing the Fifth Form on the theme of success and performance.
The City Ready lectures, given by speakers from the School community, including parents and alumni, cover a diverse range of topics that are both topical and intellectually stimulating.
Drawing on examples from leaders, innovators, and athletes, Dr Levy outlined his framework for achievement, captured in the acronym ABC ME: Ability, Belief, Clarity, Motivation, and Environment.
Ability, he explained, is “what you bring to the table” – whether physical talent, expertise built over time, or the often-underrated skill of emotional intelligence. Quoting Maya Angelou, Dr Levy highlighted that people may forget words and actions, but they never forget how you make them feel.
Belief was the second principle: confidence is directly linked to outcomes, he argued. Without self-belief, success is far harder to achieve. Closely tied to this is Clarity, which Dr Levy described as the single most important factor in high performance. He encouraged pupils to set goals in one clear sentence, identifying both the what (the destination) and the how (the journey).
Motivation, he acknowledged, is the toughest element to sustain. Drawing on examples from Churchill to Gandhi, he reminded the audience that the most successful figures in history are those who persisted in the face of setbacks. Finally, he turned to Environment, stressing the importance of both physical and psychological surroundings in shaping performance.
Dr Levy urged pupils to “believe in yourself, plan your goals, and be nice to people.” His engaging and thought-provoking talk was an inspiring start to the lecture series, leaving the Fifth Form with practical tools and timeless advice for success.
The lecture series is aiming to not only expanded pupils’ intellectual horizons and their understanding of the world around them, but also strengthen the school community by fostering connections between current pupils, parents and alumni.
