# What Does It Take to Succeed By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2024-04-10 When a person asks, “What does it take to succeed,” the responses are often focused on recipe-like items one can do to increase the probability of success. Things like working hard, having a positive attitude, always doing more, showing up early, and learning all aspects of the work often top the list. As potentially applicable as these approaches to success can be, the question is more profound if one focuses on the word “take.” What does it _take_ to succeed? With this focus, one is directed to examine the cost of success. From this perspective, obtaining success is mainly transactional. One can obtain a degree of success, but it will require sacrificing something. Maybe what is given up is time. Success takes time to achieve. Maybe what is given up is effort. Success takes greater than normal effort. Maybe what is given up is focus. Success requires dedicated focus. Maybe what is given up is authenticity. Success, at least early career success, requires a degree of conformity. Whatever _it_ is, success _takes_ something from us all. Most introductory economics classes cover the lesson that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Nothing is ever free. Sometimes, the costs are hidden, but somebody somewhere is paying the bill. When a person asks, “What does it take to succeed,” perhaps a good response might be, “What are you willing to give to become successful.” This gets closer to the core of the situation. If a person isn’t willing to give anything, suggest they focus on something other than being successful, as it is unlikely to happen. If a person responds with something, one can respond that one hopes that the achieved success was worth it. #### Related Items [[Success]] [[Advice]] [[Thinking]] [[Economics]] [[Business]] [[Work]]