Birth is a quick format

Achievement, before it is made, was a goal. 

A goal, before it is made, was a priority.

A priority, before it is made, was but an choice. 

A choice, before it was made, was an idea. 

An idea, before it was made, was a thought. 

A thought, before it was made, was a curiosity. 

A curiosity, before it was made, was a kindled mind. 

A kindled mind, before it was made, was a student.

A student, before it was made, was a child.

A child, before it was made, was an embryo.

An embryo, before it was made was an unborn soul.

The unborn soul, before it was made, was a previous birth. 

The above can go on and on. You see, while we are narrowed in our vision and  the understanding of life, and therefore think that life is limited to only the present birth in which our consciousness exists, every achievement of ours, every downfall of ours, spans the intellectual and emotional horizons of various lifetimes which build our karma. 

So the seed of our achievement today was sown perhaps many lifetimes back and it is only the cycle that continues. Each birth is but simply a quick formatting of our conscience and an insertion of a new one so that we may start afresh, to make newer choices and learn newer lessons, while the soul carries the knowledge of the past.