In this episode of the Personal Transformation Podcast, host Dan Storey explores the concept of the “will to win” and emphasizes that it’s not enough on its own to achieve one’s goals.

Drawing on personal experiences, particularly from running marathons and competing in bodybuilding, Dan stresses the importance of the “will to prepare to win.” He highlights that success requires consistent effort, discipline, and a commitment to putting in the necessary work behind the scenes, which often goes unnoticed.

Dan challenges the cultural mindset of immediate gratification and discusses the psychological aspect of valuing things that arrive quickly. He touches on the concept of temporal discounting and the tendency for people to prioritize short-term gains over long-term, sustained efforts.

The episode concludes with a thought-provoking question: “What would you dare to do if you were guaranteed to fail, but you would do it anyway?” (Thanks Seth Godin for asking this question first) Dan encourages listeners to focus on the process, embrace challenges, and detach their identity from immediate success.

Key Points:

  • Will to win vs. Will to prepare to win.
  • Cultural mindset of immediate gratification.
  • Valuing the work behind the scenes.
  • Psychological concept of temporal discounting.
  • The challenge of persevering through the “Valley of Despair.”
  • Recognizing and confronting the tendency for short-term gains.
  • The question: “What would you dare to do if you were guaranteed to fail?”
  • Channeling the will to win into winning individual components of daily activities.