How Bad Do You Want It?
Setting goals is highly overrated. Anyone who is into motivation has probably attended an all day seminar where a big part of the day was devoted to identifying your goals. Motivational speakers love to set the attendees off to think about their goals and dreams because it adds an hour or so to their presentation while everyone is busy thinking about what they want, building dream boards as they cut pictures out of magazines like The Robb Report. The speaker can keep them busy for a little longer setting goals in different areas of their lives – Financial, Work, Spiritual, Family, Physical, etc. Then all the goals need to be rated according to their importance. What a bloody waste of time.
If you have to be prodded into wondering what you want, you don’t really want anything bad enough to get it.
There are various levels of “wanting it”. The first level might be similar to the guy laying on the couch watching TV. There might be a show that he wants to switch to, but the remote is nowhere in sight, so that’s that. This is a pretty low level of desire.
A much higher level of “wanting it” would be equivalent to the hard-core coffee drinkers who have to have their coffee in the morning. On a recent trip to Las Vegas, I left my room in the morning to grab a cup of coffee at the Starbuck’s next to the lobby. Holy Caffeine! You should have seen the line!!! Now we are getting closer to the real secret of success – what will you put up with to get what you want?
My addiction is ChapStick. I must have it with me at all times. If I find that I have forgotten to put my ChapStick in my pocket, I will go to great lengths to immediately get a fresh tube. My greatest fear is going to prison and being denied having ChapStick in my cell. What objectionable behavior would I engage in to get ChapStick? I don’t want to think about it!!
Your goals have to carry at least as much weight as a coffee drinker for coffee. You have to be addicted to success. You don’t need to peruse a magazine for motivation. You know what you want. It is on your mind all the time. You crave it!! If you have to jump through hoops to get it, get the hoops out and you jump! You will get it … no matter what.
The ultimate level of desire that guarantees success would be akin to the parent’s commitment to a child. You have heard the stories of a mother who lifted a car to save a trapped baby, or the parent who runs into a burning house to save a loved one. You would fight a grizzly bear if it meant protecting someone that you dearly loved. The stories are legion of people who have performed supernatural feats in situations that demanded it.
Is your goal that strong? Then, you will get it.
If your motivation level is comparable to the guy who won’t change the station because he doesn’t want to get up off the couch, don’t expect to see any changes. It is not necessarily a bad thing. At least you don’t have to wait in any long lines, jump through any hoops, perform any unnatural sex acts, fight grizzly bears, etc. When you want it, you will get up off the couch. Have fun, make life an adventure and keep charging!!! Scott Alexander
If I ever go to prison, I hope they let me have my ChapStick!
Copyright 2010 by Scott Alexander