Work hard on what comes easily. - James Clear

How to see opportunities others miss:

1) Study a totally different field, then return to the original problem. Apply insights from other domains.
2) Invert the problem. Try to achieve the opposite.
3) Talk to hyper-creative people. Their thinking will rub off.

There are 3 primary drivers of results in life:

1) Your luck (randomness).
2) Your strategy (choices).
3) Your actions (habits).

Only 2 of the 3 are under your control. But if you master those 2, you can improve the odds that luck will work for you rather than against you.

But perhaps the best way to measure your progress is with a habit tracker.