You Have to Really Want It

Jan 14, 2026

Ever watched a gym fill up in January? Motivation is high, but it often fizzles out. The key question is: "How bad do you want it?" This thought lingered from a film convention where a speaker challenged attendees' commitment to their dreams. True desire is essential for action; clarity alone won't cut it. Scott shares stories about his pursuit of filmmaking and highlights signs of genuine commitment. Whether it's grand ambitions or simple desires, real success requires deep dedication.

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ANECDOTE

Convention Wake-Up Call

Scott Smith attended a film convention and paid $97 for a screenplay session aiming to become a Hollywood director.
The instructor asked, “How bad do you want it?” and Scott realized desire, not tricks, was the deciding factor.

INSIGHT

Desire Trumps Knowledge

Scott observes clients often get clarity and commitment but fail to start or sustain action.
He concludes wanting something deeply is the key differentiator between planning and doing.

INSIGHT

Tools Don't Replace Drive

Scott notes tools and tricks (even ChatGPT) are plentiful but ineffective without genuine desire.
He implies modern access to advice increases the importance of internal motivation over external hacks.

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Ever notice how the gym fills up in January? How everyone's pumped with fresh motivation?

I walked in ready to crush my workout, and some guy was on my machine. My machine. I had my towel ready and everything.

We all get fired up with goals and dreams. We get clarity, make plans, feel committed. Then we stumble. We pause. We stop.

Twenty years ago, a guy at a convention asked me one question that changed everything: "How bad do you want it?" After coaching thousands of hours, I've learned that's the only question that matters. You can have all the tricks, all the discipline, all the knowledge in the world. But if you don't want it badly enough, nothing else matters.

Featured Story

I had a dream of becoming a Hollywood director. I wanted to write screenplays and make movies.

So I flew to Orlando for a film convention. Paid my $97. Walked into a breakout session on screenplay writing, ready to learn the secret that would make me Hollywood famous.

The instructor got on stage and said, "I'm going to teach you everything you need to know." I had my notebook out. This was it.

Then he said, "How bad do you want it? Because I can tell you right now that most people in this room don't want it nearly badly enough to make their dreams come true."

I didn't believe him. I paid my money. I wanted it bad.

But he was right. And that question has followed me through twenty-something thousand coaching hours. Every single time, clients get clarity, get aligned, get pumped up, and then they don't move. They can't get off the starting line.

Important Points

Wanting something isn't enough. You have to want it so badly that nothing can stop you from actually getting it.

Real action requires two things: something that fires you up, and wanting it badly enough to actually do it.

The biggest goals and smallest dreams work the same way. Peace matters as much as empires if you want it badly.

Memorable Quotes

"When you want it badly enough that you'll do anything to get it, you're going to get it. Nothing can stop you."

"I wait until I get fired up. If I'm not fired up, I'm not going to do it. You know why? I ain't going to make it."

"Life is more important than crossing Ts and dotting Is. You lost me at hello if you're correcting my grammar."

Scott's Three-Step Approach

First, find something that fires you up. Without inspiration, you won't move forward or you'll quit along the way.

Second, wait until you want it badly enough. If it's not burning in you, don't start because you won't finish.

Third, go for it no matter what. Be willing to look everyone who doubts you in the eye and keep moving anyway.

Chapters

0:02 - Someone's on my machine (why it matters)

1:25 - New year, same habits (why we're all pinballs in the game)

2:31 - The $97 question that changed everything

6:58 - It's not the tricks, it's the wanting

8:32 - The blonde in the tan bikini story

13:01 - How to know if you really want it

Connect With Me

Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify

Email: scott@dailyboostpodcast.com

Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com

YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast

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