The key to most successes in life is will power. Whether you’re planning to embark on an extensive weight-loss program or you’re simply trying to dump your smoking habit, you need to have will power. High-powered executives and entrepreneurs are where they are now because of their will to reach the top and to stay there for the longest possible time that they can. 

Essentially, will power is your ability to put into action a carefully planned vision. It taps your emotions and your mind’s infinite power to accomplish the goals you’ve set – be it dieting, quitting smoking, bagging a promotion, winning the next election, changing the world, writing a hit song, landing your dream acting role, etc. In most cases, it is the most important thing you will ever need because it highly predicts your plan’s success or failure.

Three steps are usually included in the application of your will power: (1) Goal-setting; (2) Planning a course of action; and (3) Execution. Most people fail to reach their goals because they fall short on number 3. What you should do is to devote a hefty amount of time with numbers 1 and 2 to make sure that your execution goes smoothly and that your will to achieve your goals will be followed through by specific actions. You would need to gather up all of your energy to make a huge thrust forward from number 2 to number 3 in order to prevail.

Will power can bring forth great things. Keep in mind, however, that will power can only push you up to a certain point. Like gasoline in a fast running car, it will eventually be depleted. If you push too hard, you may end up driving off the track. For example, you may end up feeling too deprived from your diet that in your third week, you’d already be devouring chocolate ice cream. You may have been so focused on getting that promotion, that you’ve already neglected your relationship with your co-workers and worse, with your family. As with all things, you need to show control. 

Aside from focusing your mind on your set objectives, you need to make sure that your environment is conducive to achieving those objectives.  Clean your fridge before starting that new diet plan. Organize your contacts and hire a more aggressive agent so you can land that dream role. It’s all part of planning ahead and a way to conserve your will power. More importantly, it prevents you from losing momentum in what you’ve already done to reach your goals.

Will power is so important, but it’s hard to maintain. It’s your defense against temptations that will distract you from achieving your goal. It allows you to resist a fun late night-out with your friends to be in time for dinner with your family. It’s what you have against smoking that one single stick that would have otherwise brought you back to where you started. Your will gives you the power to transcend difficulties, making them seem easy and worth going through, just to reach your goals. It’s probably the most important thing followed only by the actual steps you take.

Looking at a larger perspective and placing it in the context of your entire life, your will power enables you to do as the classic lines from Invictus go. It allows you to be the master of your fate and to be captain of you soul. Surely, you want that.

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