Do you really know how long it takes to succeed? It depends. But one thing is clear about success: It does not happen overnight. It takes time to succeed. It takes dedication to succeed. It takes focus to succeed. It takes determination to succeed. It takes discipline to success. It takes perseverance to succeed. It takes struggle to succeed.

If you want to succeed in life, do not just talk about it, do the work. And if you do the work, the work will make you.

You can’t succeed without doing your own part. Yes, you can’t control everything, but you can control a lot. You can control your mind. You can control your thoughts. You can control your choices. You can control how you manage your resources.

It takes more than just intelligence to make it in life. Even if you are not the smartest guy or girl in the room, with focus and hard work, you can make it in life. You must work. You must show up to succeed. You must cry. You are going to fail. You are going to suffer. You will make stupid mistakes, but do not let them stop you. Do not give in to fear. Do not let your past failures stop you from doing your best in the present.

We live in the present, not in the past.

Remember, you don’t plan in the past, you plan in the present. So if you want to get ahead, you must do the work, be patient with yourself, and you must do the work.