You know, “The successful person makes a habit” of tackling the very things that hold others back. It’s less about talent and more about that daily grind of doing the uncomfortable stuff that nobody sees. That’s really where the separation happens.
Share Image Quote:At its core, this quote means that success isn’t about doing what’s easy or fun; it’s about consistently doing what is necessary, even when it’s difficult or unpleasant.
Let me break this down for you. I’ve seen this play out so many times with entrepreneurs and top performers. It’s never the one big, heroic act. It’s the compound interest of small, uncomfortable disciplines. The failing person avoids the tough phone call, procrastinates on the financial review, skips the extra round of edits. The successful person? They’ve wired themselves to lean into that discomfort. They don’t *enjoy* it any more than the next person, but they’ve made it a non-negotiable habit. It’s the habit that’s the game-changer. It becomes automatic. That’s the real secret.
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3669) |
| Category | Success (341) |
| Topics | discipline (252), effort (77), habits (85) |
| Literary Style | didactic (370) |
| Emotion / Mood | realistic (354) |
| Overall Quote Score | 80 (256) |
This gem comes straight from Napoleon Hill’s 1928 foundational work, The Law of Success, which he published in the United States. It’s often misattributed to later self-help gurus, but the concept is pure Hill—it’s the bedrock of his philosophy that success is a system, not an accident.
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Napoleon Hill (84) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | The Law of Success (47) |
| Origin Timeperiod | Modern (528) |
| Original Language | English (3669) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) wrote influential books on achievement and personal philosophy. After interviewing industrialist Andrew Carnegie, he spent years studying the habits of top performers, which led to The Law of Success and the classic Think and Grow Rich. Hill taught and lectured widely, promoting ideas like the Master Mind, definite purpose, and persistence. He collaborated with W. Clement Stone and helped launch the Napoleon Hill Foundation to preserve and extend his teachings. His work continues to shape self-help, entrepreneurship, and success literature.
| Official Website | Facebook | X| Instagram | YouTube
| Quotation | The successful person makes a habit of doing what the failing person doesn’t like to do |
| Book Details | Publication Year: 1928; ISBN: 978-1-956134-21-1; Latest Edition: 2021, 1104 pages. |
| Where is it? | Lesson 9: Habit of Doing More, Approximate page from 2021 edition: 406 |
In the book, this idea is woven into his principle of a Definite Chief Aim. Hill argues that knowing what you want isn’t enough; you must be willing to pay the price for it, and the price is almost always doing the things you’d rather avoid. It’s the bridge between a dream and its realization.
Think about it in real terms. For a sales manager, it’s making that last prospecting call at 4:55 PM when everyone else is packing up. For a writer, it’s writing that first draft even when inspiration is zero. For a leader, it’s having the candid performance conversation they’ve been dreading. This quote is pure rocket fuel for entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, and anyone in a personal growth phase. It’s a reminder that the magic is in the mundane, difficult work.
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Theme | Principle (838) |
| Audiences | coaches (1277), entrepreneurs (1007), managers (441), students (3112) |
| Usage Context/Scenario | corporate learning sessions (1), life skills programs (1), motivational coaching (15), self discipline talks (1) |
Question: Does this mean successful people never have fun or enjoy their work?
Answer: Not at all! In fact, they often enjoy it more because they’ve built a foundation of discipline that creates freedom and reduces stress. The “unpleasant” tasks become just another part of the process, not a source of dread.
Question: How do you start building this habit?
Answer: You start incredibly small. Pick one thing you consistently avoid—maybe clearing your inbox first thing—and commit to doing it for just five minutes. The key is consistency, not intensity. You’re building the muscle of leaning in.
Question: What if the thing I don’t like to do isn’t actually important?
Answer: That’s a brilliant point. This isn’t about masochism. It’s about strategic discomfort. You have to audit your “don’t like to do” list. Is it vital for your goal? If not, delegate it, automate it, or eliminate it. The focus is solely on the essential but difficult tasks that move the needle.
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