The ultimate test of intention

Everyone wants to be great. Every student wants to excel. Every business wants to succeed.

While many factors lie outside our control, a bigger issue is that we often just desire. We don’t try. And when we try, we mostly throw in hard work, not (enough) careful intention.

But perhaps greatness requires more. I’m observing that if we want what most people never get, we must do what most people will never do. Hard work alone isn’t the answer. Look around you, many people work hard. What I’m observing as a constant towards greatness is sacrifice.

And not just any sacrifice, but something I’ll call strategic sacrifice.

It starts with clarity: What do we want? Who must we become to get it? A SWOT analysis helps—our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

From there, we ask: what will I not do, even if everyone else is doing it? The test of true intention may be how many things are no-brainers for others, but no-go zones for us.

Most people won’t be great. If we live like everyone else, why should we expect different results?