When I first began doing presentations to booksellers and educators, one of the first quotes that developed from my talk also became the most popular: “If you really want to do something, no one can stop you – but if you really don’t want to do something, no one can help you.”

What’s most significant about that quote is that it’s all about personal choice and personal responsibility. Circumstance doesn’t matter. Circumstance is merely where you start from – the choices you make and the actions that follow are entirely up to you. Nothing worth achieving is easy; success must be earned – in sweat, and sometimes blood, and sometimes tears. But it can be earned, if you’re willing to pay the price. If you are, then your work speaks for itself. If you aren’t, then all that’s left to do is make excuses why you didn’t really want it. People may understand; some may sympathize; but no one was ever inspired by excuses, no matter how good they seem to be.

Drop the excuses. Decide what you want. Then go find a way to make it happen. It’s all entirely up to you.