What differentiates the not-so-successful investors and the successful investors is that successful investors know how to manipulate the system to their advantage. We all know that stock market is semi-efficient and those who recognise this fact and act on it tend to outperform the general market. I've once read in the Intelligent Investor by Ben Graham who many consider to be Buffett's guru, that he once (as an investor in a company) put pressure on a company's management to raise dividends...thus causing share price appreciation and he (Graham) came away with a little fortune.

Then again, you cannot take anything away from Buffett because to take advantage of the opportunities in financial markets is no easy feat.