So many of the role models that you cite made a lot of small decisions along the way and then ultimately had a big break. Do you view your own path to success as a series of small decisions, or was there one defining moment?
SECRETARY RICE: Oh, I absolutely see it as a series of small decisions. But I see it as a lot of serendipity, too!
People have asked me, "What plan should I have for my life?" Especially my students at Stanford, who would ask me, "Well, how do I become..." whatever it was they aspired to. And I would always say, I'm not a great planner. If I had followed my plan, I would be a concert musician someplace, and probably playing a piano bar because I probably wasn't good enough to play Carnegie Hall. But somewhere along the way, I took a course in international politics. I loved it, and decided that the study of the Soviet Union and all things Russian was my passion. Following your passion is the best advice I can give to anybody.NEXT: What keeps her going in tough times
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