"I believe success is preparation, because opportunity is going to knock on your door sooner or later but are you prepared to answer that?"
About this Quote
The phrasing matters. “I believe” signals lived experience rather than a TED Talk abstraction, and coming from an actor it carries extra subtext. Epps built a career in an industry that fetishizes sudden breaks yet runs on long stretches of audition rooms, side gigs, and invisible skill-building. The quote reads like a correction to the fantasy that talent alone gets “found.” Preparation here isn’t just craft; it’s stamina, professionalism, and the emotional readiness to walk into a room and not shrink.
There’s also a cultural edge: it’s a meritocratic statement that flirts with a hard truth and a harder oversimplification. Not everyone gets the same doors, and some doors stay locked. Still, Epps’ intent isn’t to deny structural barriers; it’s to reclaim agency in a field and a culture that can make people feel perpetually at the mercy of gatekeepers. The question lands as a challenge: if the moment finally arrives, will you recognize it as yours?
Quote Details
| Topic | Success |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Epps, Omar. (2026, January 16). I believe success is preparation, because opportunity is going to knock on your door sooner or later but are you prepared to answer that? FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-believe-success-is-preparation-because-123224/
Chicago Style
Epps, Omar. "I believe success is preparation, because opportunity is going to knock on your door sooner or later but are you prepared to answer that?" FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-believe-success-is-preparation-because-123224/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I believe success is preparation, because opportunity is going to knock on your door sooner or later but are you prepared to answer that?" FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-believe-success-is-preparation-because-123224/. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.














