The One Word That Separates Those Who Do from Those Who Don’t

It’s not talent, hustle, or discipline.

There’s one trait that separates people who reach their potential from those who don’t: willingness.
Not talent.
Not hustle.
Not even discipline.
Willingness.
Willingness is when you know exactly what you want, and you focus everything you’ve got on getting it.
That’s it.
Most people don’t get what they want out of life—not because they’re lazy or unmotivated—but because they don’t know what they actually want. Or they know, but they don’t focus. They get distracted. They hedge. They keep their options open. They “diversify.”

And without clarity and focus, there is no willingness.
If you don’t know what you want, what are you going to aim for?
And if you can’t focus, how are you going to make any real progress?
That’s what separates those who do from those who don’t.
Want. Focus. Willingness.
When you really want something—and you make the decision to focus everything on that want—you create willingness.
And willingness is what gets you across the finish line.
It’s what makes you stretch, sacrifice, commit, and stay in the game when it gets hard.
It works the same in business and in life.

I want to earn $360,000 a year.
I want to work no more than 40 hours a week.
I want to have dinner with my family every night.
I want to be fit.
I want a thriving marriage.

That’s what I want.
So that’s what I’m going to focus on.
And that means saying no to things that don’t serve those wants.
That’s how I build a business and a life I actually want.
I want.
I focus.
I’m willing.
So I follow through.
I grow.
I realize my wants.
I reach my potential.

My hope is you don’t just nod along.
Stop and ask yourself:
What do I actually want?
Am I focused on it?

If not, what’s in the way and what would you like to do about it?

-Adam