“How” is Not the Problem
Listen to this on The Lucra Podcast 🎧
In nearly two decades as a coach, I’ve worked with those who went on to create success in their lives and those who did not. With hundreds of clients as a data set, I’d say their outcome is predicated on this one thing:
Whether or not they commit to doing.
Some clients say, “But I don’t know how to do XYZ.”
I’ve worked with people over the years who claim they’re not doing it because they don’t know how. The curious thing is that once I’ve shown them how they still don’t do it. 🤔
So “how” is not the problem.
In my trading business, I’ve shown people how to trade. With my coach training, I’ve shown people how to start a business, host an online summit, build a website, start a podcast, and much more. In my coaching business, I’ve shown people how to shift their mindset, discover their purpose, and lead more joyful, deliberate lives.
Those who go on to succeed are those who work through the “how” and keep going.
Here’s the secret…
Most (if not all) of us who’ve become successful did NOT know “how” in the beginning. We make it up as we go.
Even if I were to teach you how to trade or build an online empire, you still need to put in the effort to learn and grow through your own process. Your journey will be different from mine even if we’re heading toward the same goal.
The Redemption in True Effort
“I saw the difference between doing nothing, or doing a little, and the redemptive act of true effort.” — Mary Oliver, Upstream
We often talk about achieving dreams, reaching financial independence, or simply finding more joy in life, but it’s easy to fall into a passive mindset, assuming that these goals will unfold organically as long as we vaguely keep them in mind.
I learned the truth about this the hard way when I was all hyped up on the Law of Attraction when I started my coaching business in 2007. Many of you know how that played out for me. (Spoiler Alert: My dream turned into a nightmare of eviction, foreclosure, homelessness, and bankruptcy.)
As Mary Oliver suggests, there’s a distinct difference between “doing nothing, or doing a little,” and fully committing ourselves.
The Truth About Growth
This is the unglamorous side of growth:
- Small, consistent actions
- Work being done even when motivation fades
- Willingness to show up even when results aren’t immediately visible
It’s tempting to look for shortcuts, but there’s rarely a real substitute for effort. Achieving any goal—be it financial freedom, wellness, or a more purposeful life—demands this kind of commitment. And true effort is what ultimately brings the rewards worth having.
Would you expect to get stronger if someone showed you how to properly lift a dumbbell? No. You’d know, but until you embody that knowledge and do it, your biceps will remain the same. 💪🏼
While some things may land in your lap, much of what we truly value comes through patience, discipline, and focus. It’s in our moment-by-moment choices and the conscious direction of our time and energy, that we align ourselves with our highest visions. Plus, there’s a sense of honor in knowing that we dared to go for it.
True effort may be challenging, but it brings its own kind of reward. As you keep showing up, the journey is itself the process by which you grow, proving that consistent effort isn’t just a means to an end but an act that transforms us along the way.