Yesterday, as part of my Day Job, I went to a three-hour training class about how to be more effective in an organization. The focus was on the corporate world, but one part in particular was relevant to our interests.
The guy put up a slide that said Ability + Will = Performance. In other words, if you have the ability to do something and the will to do something, that thing is gonna get done. Pretty straightforward, right? Not exactly multivariable calculus.
Then he said something else. He said it almost in passing, on his way to making another point, and I don’t think it was part of his standard spiel. But it hit me hard, and I wrote it down right then. Here’s what he said:
“Ability is rarely the obstacle.”
Of course we’ve all heard this kind of thing before: realize your potential, you can do whatever you set your mind to, etc. If you wanted a fortune cookie, you would’ve gone to Happy Garden Buffet. I get it.
Yet think about this for a second. Ability is rarely the obstacle. If this is true – and I believe it is – then here’s what we’re really saying: Your long-term success or failure is generally not a matter of “can’t,” but a matter of “won’t.”
That doesn’t necessarily mean you have the necessary ability right now. Much of the struggle – in writing a novel, in managing a project, whatever – is improving your own abilities. But that, in turn, comes right back to your will. Your drive. Your inner fire.
What’s holding you back? Ability – or will?
Brian D. Buckley 
I agree and it hurts. This sort of thing always brings me down sometimes, depending on my current state of mind.
If my state of mind is positive, this is GREAT news, cause it means you pretty much can do anything you want most, so you don’t have to worry, just do it.
If my state of mind is negative, I think, great the reason I’m not progressing is my own damn self. How the hell do I get around an obstacle when that obstacle is my self?
It’s a dilemma that keeps coming back over and over. It’s so annoying.
If it’s any consolation, I go through the same cycles.
So, so true. I tweeted a link yesterday called “How to Be Awesome,” and one of its points was very similar: http://chrisguillebeau.com/3×5/how-to-be-awesome/
For me, it’s not lack of will in a big picture sense; it’s lack of will on a micro level — which could also be called, DISCIPLINE.
Sigh. I’m working on it, but it’s a hard thing to train yourself in, especially if you got through years of schooling by just skating on your Ability alone.
If being awesome involves mailing 2-3 thank you cards every day (as the article says), I think I’m screwed. 😉
One of my favourite quotes of all time is from Lou Holtz:
ABILITY is what you’re capable of doing.
MOTIVATION determines what you do.
ATTITUDE determines how well you do it.
And, now I know who Lou Holtz is!