Most people want things, but few of them actually DO what is necessary in order to get the things they are after.

When we speak of our wants, what we really are referring to is our desires. Just �wanting� something is not enough to cause that desire to happen. Desires will come to fruition only if we employ personal discipline to achieve them. To put it in other words, desire equals discipline. The following story explains what I mean:

A student knows a respected teacher and he tells the teacher, �I have a desire to learn from you.� In turn, the teacher says, �Very well then, follow me.� The teacher leads the new pupil down to the ocean and motions for him to follow him into the water.

When they are about chest deep in the water, the teacher grabs the student and forces his head underwater. At first, the student is calm, thinking, �This is just part of some test. He will let me up in moment and I will impress him.� After a minute passes, the student begins to worry and struggle. Soon, he is desperately trying to surface and becomes frantic.

The teacher holds the student under the water until the struggling ceases and the student almost passes out. After he is released, the student gasps for air and shouts, �Are you crazy? I almost drowned!�

The teacher looks calmly into his eyes and says, �When you desire to learn from me as much as you desired to get a breath, then return, and I will teach you.�

Someone who is drowning will do ANYTHING to get the needed air. True desire is measured by what you are willing to do (discipline) to get that object of desire.

It takes a true, undeniable desire to achieve real success. A person may exclaim a desire (�I want to build a home-based business for my family�), but until that person is willing to do WHATEVER it takes (discipline; i.e., learning Internet business, making a plan, executing the plan), it is a mere statement of sentiment, not true desire.

Desire = Discipline

The quality and authenticity of any desire you may have is only as genuine and sincere as what you are willing to do to get it. What will you give up? What will you re-prioritize? What will you sacrifice? How will you spend your time and money? What actual choices are you willing to make to get that desire? Whatever those choices are; whatever discipline you are willing to exercise� that is the genuine measurement of your desire.

In Part Two, we will learn how �focus� is the third vital aspect of success.

G. Brent Riggs, author of “Life Without Debt” has over 20 years experience as an business owner, teacher, personal growth coach and mentor. You can contact him from his main website: http://www.gbrentriggs.com