We know what to do. The process isn’t a secret. The path is usually proven and well-worn. If we don’t know what to do, we can learn — from colleagues, supervisors, mentors, or a book. The key question is: do you want it badly enough to put in the work to do it? 

David Maister discussed this “Wanting It” at length at a Thought Leadership workshop I attended last week. Alan Weiss, who put on the event, calls it Resolve. I call it Discipline (which is different than Perseverance, another prerequisite for success). Whatever you call it, you need it, because it’s more important than talent and skills.