Patience is truly the best practice, in many cases.
If you don't take the time to get a good natural point of aim, steady your shot, control your breathing and pull straight back without jerking, you'll never hit anything precisely.
A good attitude is also required when teaching or learning most anything.
The fundamentals are key as so many of us have stated before.
A thorough understanding of your gear and skill level is another thing to factor in.
Practice your wind calling, that's what makes the real difference.
You can know ballistics like the back of your hand, shoot tiny 1/4 moa groups at 100yds, but if you have bad wind calls then your buddies sks will make better hits at distance if he factors wind and you don't...
Learn mirage, learn the wave patterns, use what you can to help you make that shot.
Up here in the hills we often have winds blowing different directions along the bullets flight path.
Learn to be confident in your skills as well. If you don't believe in the shot then as I've seen many times, you'll miss for whatever reason...