You Really Have to Want It
Eight weeks ago, I broke my right arm.
Not exactly part of the plan.
About three weeks after the break, I started physical therapy. And since then, I’ve been doing the exercises three times a day. Every day. Not when it’s convenient. Not when I feel like it.
Every day.
Are the exercises comfortable? Not really.
Do I always feel like doing them? Definitely not.
Would it be easier to skip a session here and there? Of course.
But here’s what’s interesting.
At my last appointment, both my doctor and my physical therapist commented on how much progress I’ve made– in mobility, strength, range of motion. All ahead of schedule.
Why?
Because I’m doing the work.
What I’ve noticed along the way
In the waiting room at physical therapy, you start to see patterns.
Some people come in consistently. You can tell they’re doing the exercises at home. They ask questions. They push through discomfort. Their progress shows.
Others come in…less consistently. They hesitate when asked about their home exercises. They move cautiously, sometimes avoiding the very movements that will help them improve.
And over time, the gap shows.
The difference isn’t intelligence.
It’s not the access to care.
It’s not even the severity of the injury.
It’s willingness to do the work.
You really have to want it.
This shows up in business all the time
I see the exact same pattern with business owners and leaders.
A business owner will say to me:
“I want to grow the business and position it for a successful exit in the next five to eight years.”
Great goal. Clear. Ambitious.
So we start talking about what that actually requires:
- building a stronger leadership team
- investing in sales and business development
- creating systems that don’t rely entirely on the owner
- making decisions and investments today that will pay off down the road
And somewhere in that conversation, I’ll hear:
“I know I should hire a sales manager or a business development person… but I can’t afford it right now.”
Maybe that’s true.
But sometimes, it’s not about affordability. It’s about willingness.
Willingness to:
- invest before it feels comfortable
- give up some control
- do the harder work now for a payoff that isn’t immediate
Because just like physical therapy, growth doesn’t happen by talking about it.
It happens by doing the uncomfortable things consistently over time.
Why we avoid the work
Whether it’s rehab or running a business, the reasons are the same.
It’s uncomfortable.
It’s inconvenient.
The payoff isn’t immediate.
It’s easier to do what you’ve always done.
And so we negotiate with ourselves.
“I’ll start next week.”
“I’ll wait until things calm down or I have the cash flow.”
“I’ll revisit this in a few months.”
But here’s the reality:
Delay doesn’t make the work easier. It just pushes the outcome further away.
The connection most people miss
Goals are easy to say.
“I want to get back to full mobility.”
“I want to grow my business.”
“I want to exit successfully.”
But goals without matching behavior are just intentions.
What actually determines the outcome is:
- what you do when it’s inconvenient
- what you do when no one is watching
- what you do when it would be easier not to
That’s where the real work happens.
Three things to think about
1. Results follow consistency, not intensity
Doing something occasionally doesn’t get you there. Doing the right things consistently does.
2. Discomfort is part of the process–not a signal to stop
In both physical therapy and business, discomfort usually means you’re doing the right work.
3. Be honest about what you really want
There’s nothing wrong with choosing a different path. But if you say you want a specific outcome, your actions need to match it.
A final thought
I didn’t get better because I wanted to.
I got better because I followed through with what was required.
The same is true in business.
If you want growth, if you want change, if you want a different outcome–you have to be willing to do the work that gets you there.
Even when it’s inconvenient.
Even when it’s uncomfortable.
Even when the results aren’t immediate.
Because in the end, the difference between people who reach their goals and those who don’t is often very simple:
They really wanted it–and they did the work, even when it was uncomfortable.
And if you’re working toward something important and finding that the gap between what you want and what you’re doing is getting in the way, it might be worth having a conversation with someone who isn’t emotionally attached to the outcome. Chances are, that will give you some clarity to move forward.
Onward and Upward,
Executive Coaching and Consulting for business CEOs, Owners and Presidents
If you are looking to grow your business or amplify your personal leadership skills, I would love to have a conversation with you. You can email me at karen@karencaplan.com for a no obligation conversation.
