How Bad Do You Want It?

I remember the feeling as if it were yesterday. It was 3:30 AM and I took a few minutes to clear my mind and step away from my senior project. I was about two months away from graduation from UNL with a degree in Computer Engineering and a degree in Electrical Engineering. At this time, I probably had about three SoBe No Fear energy drinks… it felt as if my kidneys and liver were crying in pain. As I walked in the hall of the engineering building the lights were dimly lit. I saw a plaque with pictures of other students who had graduated the year before me. I was stressed. I was tired. I was running on about two hours of sleep each day. I had already been married and divorced, I am a single father. I am a survivor. I was two months away from one of the biggest changes in my life! “How bad do you want it JP?” I said to myself. There was no turning back, I couldn’t turn back. I couldn’t quit. It was the last semester of my college career! I could feel the excitement building. That phrase always stuck with me: “how bad do you want it?”

How bad do you want it? How bad do you want graduate from college? How bad do you want that promotion? How bad do you want to complete a half-marathon? How bad do you want to build a successful business? How bad do you want to quit smoking? How bad do you want to eat healthier? How bad do you want it? You can accomplish any of these if you work hard enough and set your mind to it.

Around the 1st of the year, I’m always amused when people ask me what is my New Year’s resolution. I always respond: “I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions.” I usually always get a blank stare. I then proceed with “if there is something that I want to improve upon or accomplish, I try very hard to start today. Starting at a later date doesn’t force me to be serious.” Now, this doesn’t mean that I think a person shouldn’t have a New Year’s resolution. Everyone is different. But in general, I think they’re bunk. I’m reminded of the quote from the movie Vanilla Sky: Sofia says to the main character: “every minute is a new chance to start over.” That’s how I see it. You can accomplish your goals and make changes one day at a time.

You can accomplish your goals. You can have your dreams. You don’t even have to sacrifice your health, and you shouldn’t. Your comfort is not important and there is no sideways in life, you’re always improving or weakening. Don’t sacrifice the short-term for the long-term. Your time is an investment. Take one day at a time.