Successful people are willing to do things that unsuccessful people aren’t. It’s a simple but brutal truth about the price of achievement, and it’s less about talent and more about tolerance for discomfort.
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Meaning
At its core, this quote means that success isn’t about luck or a secret formula; it’s about action. Specifically, the difficult, boring, or uncomfortable actions that most people actively avoid.
Explanation
Let me break this down for you. I’ve seen this play out so many times. We all have the same 24 hours, right? The difference isn’t in the hours themselves, but in what we’re willing to fill them with.
The “willing to do” part is the whole game. It’s not the big, heroic stuff. It’s the mundane. It’s the discipline to make one more sales call when you’re tired. It’s the willingness to hear “no” ten times to get one “yes.” It’s choosing to learn a new skill on a Saturday night when others are out. Unsuccessful people aren’t unwilling because they’re bad people; they’re just unwilling to tolerate the temporary pain for the long-term gain. And that, my friend, is the filter.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Success (341) |
| Topics | effort (77), habits (85), perseverance (25) |
| Literary Style | didactic (370) |
| Emotion / Mood | motivating (311), serious (155) |
| Overall Quote Score | 80 (256) |
Origin & Factcheck
This one comes straight from Brian Tracy’s 2001 book, The 21 Success Secrets of Self-Made Millionaires. You’ll sometimes see it misattributed to other motivational figures, but the source is definitively Tracy, who built his own career on these principles of discipline and action.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Brian Tracy (375) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | The 21 Success Secrets of Self-Made Millionaires (41) |
| Origin Timeperiod | Contemporary (1615) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Brian Tracy, a prolific author gained global reputation because of his best seller book list such as Eat That Frog!, Goals!, and The Psychology of Selling, and created influential audio programs like The Psychology of Achievement. He is sought after guru for personal development and business performance. Brian Tracy International, coaches millions of professionals and corporates on sales, goal setting, leadership, and productivity.
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Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Successful people are those who are willing to do things that unsuccessful people are not willing to do |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2001; ISBN: 978-1-57675-198-5; Latest Edition: Revised 2019; Number of Pages: 96 |
| Where is it? | Chapter 7: Do What You Love to Do, Approximate page 29 of 2019 edition |