It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be

As a gift for one of my past internships, my manager gave me Paul Arden’s book, “It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be.”

When I first moved to New York, it was one of the few books I made space for in my suitcase.

Whenever I feel unmotivated, I turn to its first few pages and I feel the fire within me igniting again.

Here are a few excerpts from its opening pages:

Nearly all the rich and powerful are not notably talented, educated, charming or good looking. They become rich and powerful by wanting to be rich and powerful.

Your vision of where or who you want to be is the greatest asset you have. Without having a goal it’s difficult to score.

All of us how want to be good at our jobs, but how good do we really want to be?

Quite good. Good.

Very good.

The best in our field.

Or the best in the world?

Talent helps, but it won’t take you as far as ambition. Everybody wants to be good, but not many people are prepared to make the sacrifices it takes to be great.

To many people, being nice is more important. There’s equal merit in that, but you must not confuse being good with being liked.

Most people are looking for a solution, a way to become good. There is no instant solution, the only way to learn is through experience and mistakes.

You will become whoever you want to be.

You can achieve the unachievable.

Firstly, you need to aim beyond what you are capable of. You must develop a complete disregard for where abilities end. Try to do the things that you’re incapable of.

If you think you’re unable to work for the best company in your sphere, make that your aim.

If you think you’re incapable of running a company, make that your aim.

If you think you’re unable to be on the cover of Time magazine, make it your business to be there.

Make your vision of where you want to be a reality.

Nothing is impossible.