The statement, You can do anything you put your mind to, leads us to believe that all you must do is imagine what youd like to accomplish, set your mind to the task, and wait for success.

To a certain degree this is true. Focused intention combined with action is a powerful force. But the statement is misleading because it fails to mention the difficulty and necessity of focusing your mind on a specific goal.

Most of us dont know what we want. We think we do, but we really dont. We only know what we dont want. We dont want a boring job. We dont want to be poor. We dont want to disappoint our loved ones.

Knowing specifically what you want is much different than knowing what you dont want. When you only know what you dont want, your intentions arent focused. Consider this example.

Pete doesnt want to be poor. Hes sick of earning less than his friends, and hes determined to raise his status. To accomplish this goal, Pete could take many different paths. He could train for a high paying profession, such as doctor or lawyer. He could start his own company, go into real estate, or do many other things that would lead to acquiring wealth.

But Pete isnt sure what he wants to do. He doesnt know which path best fits his skills and personality, so he doesnt resolve to follow any particular path.

Hoping to answer this question, he investigates a dozen possibilities, but as soon as he runs into adversity he decides that path isnt for him and moves on to a new solution.

Petes actions arent focused. Although he works very hard, his efforts dont build on each other. Rather than building one giant impenetrable sand castle, Pete has built twenty smalls ones that are easily toppled. He ends up confused and discouraged. Ultimately Petes lack of focus leads to failure.

Now, what if Pete had chosen a specific path? Suppose he decided on the law profession. His actions would have been clearly defined:

• Get a high score on the LSAT
• Attain letters of recommendation

• Get accepted to a good law school
• Decide on a field of law
• Earn a law degree
• Find a high paying job with a good law firm

A set of specific goals is much easier to achieve than a vague end goal like becoming wealthy. Being focused on a path gives Pete a logical set of actions to follow. Each accomplishment is one step closer to the final goal.

I think we can all agree that committing to a clearly defined path, regardless of which one, gives Pete the best chance of becoming wealthy.

But how can he choose a path if he doesnt know what he wants? Maybe money isnt his only goal. Maybe he wants to do something he loves at the same time. Maybe he cant afford to go back to school. Reality is complicated, and Pete doesnt want to commit too soon.

And thats why he fails.

But I dont think thats necessarily a bad thing. Most people dont fit neatly into a predefined path. Forcing yourself into one may lead to success, but it probably wont make you happy.

This is the point. If you want to be conventionally successful, to attain wealth and status, you need to choose a specific path (preferably something mainstream) and follow it to the letter.

On the other hand, if you arent particularly concerned with wealth or success, you can take your time searching for that perfect niche.

Just dont wait too long to decide. Each moment you deliberate, your already committed competitors sprint further ahead.

But, then again, maybe life isnt a race, and maybe the most interesting people follow a path all their own.