Success – You Have To Want It More

The best way to increase your odds of achieving success in your endeavors is to want it more than your competitors.

I’ve heard this expression quite a bit and as time has gone on, I have come to believe it’s correct.

Obviously there are extrinsic factors over which we have no control, some or all of which impact our likelihood of being successful in our endeavors.  Holding those extrinsic factors constant though, one of the main differentiators between those who are successful and those who are not is that they want it more!

What does “want it more” mean?  It means that relative to those against whom you are competing, the outcome matters more to you.  It’s more important to you, and for that reason, you are willing to put in the extra effort its going to take to be successful.  If you really want it, you may even go to extremes, such as cheating, which can be a negative byproduct of wanting it more (too much).

Why would one person want it more than the next?  We all have different reasons for doing what we do.  One person may want it more because they feel like they have something to prove, to themselves and others.  Another person may want it more because they believe if they’re successful, they can help their family and others in need.  A third person may want it more because they were raised to be very competitive and taught that winning was the most important thing.

So, one person’s “it” may be a means to an end and another person’s “it” may be an end in itself.  Regardless of the reasons behind the desire though, in my experience, whoever wants “it” more, is more likely to achieve success than the person who is ambivalent or even apathetic.

In order to create and nourish a strong desire to be successful, as I’ve written elsewhere, it’s important that you understand your “why” for undertaking a particular endeavor.  If your “why” is not clear enough, or not strong enough, it’s likely that when the chips are down and the pressure is on, you will not perform as well as someone who has a strong understanding of and commitment to their reason for playing the game.  I mean this metaphorically of course; whether it’s an actually game, a business deal, or most any other type of endeavor where you can measure success, it’s usually very helpful to have a “why”.   Your “why” can help you tap your willpower and increase your odds of a positive outcome.

How badly do you want success (however you’ve defined it – if you haven’t defined it, that’s a separate discussion) in your current endeavors?  Do you have a strong “why” for participating in those endeavors?  Or are you kind of fumbling along, not really sure why you’re doing what you’re doing?

In any endeavors where you have to compete against other “players,” whether the endeavors are focused on business, sports, or other areas of your life, I can assure you that if you don’t want it more, when the time comes to perform, you will be edged out or even blown away by those who have a hunger for success.  If you’re not feeling “hungry” in your endeavors, ask yourself why.  If you don’t like the answers, ask yourself if it’s time to move on to other challenges that stimulate you more.