“It’s not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.”
Paul “Bear” Bryant
In 1964, Muhammad Ali was getting ready to fight Sonny Liston. Everyone called him the underdog, but they didn’t see what Ali was doing when the cameras were off: early mornings, long runs, lonely hours in the gym. That’s where Ali won, long before anyone stepped into the ring.
Ali said bluntly, “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'” It’s easy to talk about winning, but the grind? That’s where most people quit. The question is, are you willing to endure the discomfort when no one’s cheering you on?
Truthfully, it’s not talent or luck that separates the best from the rest. It’s discipline. It’s showing up, doing the work, day after day, long before any recognition or reward.
So ask yourself, what are you preparing for? Are you putting in the work that matters, or are you waiting for the win to show up magically?
On this topic, I love the book Grit by Angela Duckworth. It’s the trait I seek as the ultimate differentiator when hiring talent.
