“Willpower is the key to success. Successful people strive no matter what they feel by applying their will to overcome apathy, doubt or fear.”  -- Dan Millman

“Nothing can withstand the power of the human will if it is willing to stake its very existence to the extent of its purpose.”  -- Benjamin Disraeli

Willpower is an intangible human force that empowers individuals to attain amazing goals in spite of daunting odds or overwhelming adversity.  Sufficient willpower can make up for a lack of ability, education, knowledge, or talent.  Conversely, without willpower the slightest obstacle becomes an insurmountable hurdle. 

People with willpower will not be deterred.  Criticism doesn’t dissuade them, it serves as motivation.  They consider all problems solvable.  To them, there are no dead ends.  Rather, there is simply the opportunity to change direction or strategy.

Having willpower means you don’t just give something a try; you accomplish whatever you set your mind to.  With willpower, the only direction is forward.  You don’t lament the past, wasting time with what you could have, should have, or would have done.

Although some people tend to have more willpower than others, anyone can cultivate it.  Never say to yourself, “I just don’t have much willpower.”  This type of self-talk reinforces a negative condition and prevents you from improving.

Willpower is inexorably connected to those things that are important to you.  It’s virtually impossible to develop willpower to accomplish something that doesn’t matter.  Why would you expend much effort to attain a goal you don’t care about?

Desire is also needed and directly linked to willpower.  You will have the most power to attain that which is desirable.  The more you want something, the more time and effort you are willing to expend to get it.  The desire has to be your own and not what someone else thinks you should want.

A sense of urgency motivates you to take action now rather than procrastinating.  The higher the urgency, the sooner you will act.  The urgency then increases your willpower to get you through to your destination.

Peer pressure can be advantageous when it serves to boost your willpower.  A desire to conform to what others are doing can be motivating.  Not wanting to become an outsider often serves as a strong driving force.  The downside is possibly striving to accomplish something that you don’t really want or isn’t in your own best interest.

For some people, criticism fires up their willpower.  When their efforts are derided, they dig in their heels and redouble their determination.  These people thrive on the opportunity to prove others wrong by accomplishing their original objective.

Situations where failure is not an option generate lots of willpower.  There are numerous examples of stranded people surviving amazingly harsh conditions with nothing but sheer willpower.  These are situations where failure means certain death.  Whenever you feel you have no choice but to succeed, your willpower drives you forward and you become virtually unstoppable.

Just the challenge of attaining a specific goal may be enough to boost your willpower.  Some people have no interest in attaining anything that is easy but instead seek out objectives that are highly challenging.

Analyze those situations where your willpower was the strongest.  By understanding what intensifies your willpower, you will have the ability to tap into it when necessary.  Learning to harness your willpower as needed will enable you to overcome larger obstacles than you thought possible.

NOW AVAILABLE:  "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book.  Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or write him c/o this paper.  2010 Bryan Golden

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