"Whatever it takes. That has to be your mindset." - Futurist Jim Carroll
Many people seem to be engineered to give up too easily. Pack it in. Move on before the hard work. Never give what it takes. Abandon the effort. Never do what it takes.
The question is - why?
People seem to understand what success requires, yet consistently fail to take the necessary actions.
What's behind this attitude?
- Comfortable complacency. Too many get trapped in what I call the "good enough zone" - where they're just comfortable enough to resist real change, but not successful enough to thrive. This dangerous complacency is like a slow-acting poison in today's rapid-change environment.
- A "not-my-problem' attitude. Too many people see the need for change but respond with "not my department" or "not my responsibility." This abandonment of responsibility creates a paradox: everyone sees the problem, but no one takes action.
- Fear is the default setting. People are too scared to move and choose inaction as a strategy, mistaking it for prudence. But here's the reality: in 2025, the risk of doing nothing far outweighs the risk of action.
- A lack of confidence. A lot of people have convinced themselves they can't adapt or master new realities. They've created their glass ceilings, limiting their potential before even trying.
Here's the stark reality: Success requires more than just knowing what to do - it demands the courage to do it. You need to move beyond understanding to action, beyond planning to execution, beyond fear to calculated risk-taking.
Here's the thought you need to plant in your mind - the future doesn't belong to the smartest or the strongest - it belongs to those willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.
So how do you do that?
Here's my list:
- Destroy your comfort zone - Stop hiding behind "I'm not ready" or "I'll do it tomorrow." Your success lives on the other side of your comfort zone. Push yourself there. Now.
- Make bold decisions, fast - You can't wait for perfect clarity. The world moves too fast. Make your calls within 24 hours. Trust your gut. Own the outcome.
- Fail forward, fearlessly - Stop worrying about looking foolish. Launch that project. Start that business. Make that call. If you fail, fail fast and learn faster. Your next success is built on today's failure.
- Embrace the power of yes - Your first instinct might be "no." Push past it. Say yes to opportunities that scare you. Growth happens when you're terrified but move forward anyway.
- Create daily breakthroughs - Challenge yourself to break one personal barrier every single day. Small wins compound into massive victories. What barrier will you break today?
- Question everything - Start each morning by asking "What if I completely reimagined my approach?" Your breakthrough might be hiding in your assumptions.
- Live in your customers' world - Stop assuming you know what they want. Live their experience. Feel their pain points. Your success depends on solving their problems, not yours.
- Move at lightning speed - If you're feeling comfortable with your pace, you're moving too slowly. Speed is your competitive advantage. Use it.
- Measure your discomfort - If you're not feeling uncomfortable regularly, you're not pushing hard enough. Discomfort is your growth indicator. Embrace it.
- Banish excuses - Stop saying "I can't" or "I need more time." Replace every excuse with "I'll find a way." Because you will.
- Learn from everyone - Age, position, and status don't matter. Your next breakthrough might come from the intern or the CEO. Stay humble. Stay hungry for knowledge.
- Take immediate action - Stop waiting for the "right time." It doesn't exist. If you can do it in 30 minutes or less, do it now. Right now.
- Celebrate your failures - They're not setbacks; they're setups for your comeback. Share them proudly. Each failure is proof you're pushing your limits.
- Expand your capabilities - Learn something new every quarter that scares you. Your brain is a muscle - push it beyond its limits.
- See the future first - Don't wait for trends to emerge. Create them. Ask yourself "What will people need 18 months from now?" Then start building it.
- Be the solution - Stop waiting for someone else to fix problems. Be the one who steps up. Be the one who takes action. Be the one who makes it happen.
- Question your legacy - Regularly ask yourself "If I started fresh today, what would I do differently?" Then do it.
- Build powerful partnerships - Your success multiplies through others. Reach out to one new potential partner every month. Create unexpected alliances.
- Envision your future - Start with your biggest dream and work backward. Don't let current limitations dictate your future success.
- Deliver extraordinary value - Before every action, ask "How does this create massive value for others?" Make your work matter.
- Own your innovation - Don't wait for permission to innovate. Make it your mission to create positive change every single day.
- Challenge everything - Dedicate time each week to questioning your fundamental beliefs about success. Your biggest limitations are in your mind.
- Just start - Stop planning. Stop preparing. Stop waiting. Start doing. You have enough information. Begin now.
- Obsess over excellence - Make every detail count. Push beyond "good enough." Deliver work that makes you proud.
- End each day stronger - Ask yourself "Did I do whatever it took to succeed today?" If not, tomorrow needs to be different. Make it count.
Remember: Success isn't about what you know or who you know.
It's about what you're willing to do when others won't.
It's about pushing past your limits when others quit.
It's about doing whatever it takes.
Futurist Jim Carroll has always been mystified by inaction.