In many fields preparation is a key secret to success. For instance, in the art meeting new people they teach that if you familiarize yourself with the day's news you can have something to say when you meet new people. The main thing is not the daily news itself, yet that little news opens the door to meeting a person, which is a great thing.

"Ain omdim lhispallel ele mtoch koved rosh" means "Do not pray except with a heavy head." The Lubavitcher Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn commented that there are people who are strong and people who are weak, but with enough preparation even a strong person can find that he can acquire the prerequisite "heavy head."

A little preparation, done at the right time and in the right measure will open the gates of prayer incredibly.