There is a big difference between wanting to say you wrote a book, and actually writing one. Many people think they want to write, even though they find crafting sentences and paragraphs unpleasant. They hope there is a way to write without writing. I can tell you with certainty there isn’t one.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the distinction between the desire to achieve a goal and the effort required to accomplish it.
Scott Berkun highlights that many individuals have the aspiration to write a book but are often deterred by the actual labor involved in the writing process. He asserts that true achievement requires commitment and effort, and that one cannot expect to succeed without engaging in the necessary hard work.
In practice
During a motivational speech to aspiring authors, I could use this quote to inspire them to take action.
Innovative ideas are rarely rejected on their merits; they’re rejected because of how they make people feel. If you forget people’s concerns and feelings when you present an innovation, or neglect to understand their perspectives in your design, you’re setting yourself up to fail.
I trained for less than three-quarters of an hour, maybe five days a week - I didn't have time to do more. But it was all about quality, not quantity - so I didn't waste time jogging, ever.
Who waits until circumstances completely favor his undertaking, will never accomplish anything.
The simple act of paying positive attention to people has a great deal to do with productivity.
The secret of getting ahead is getting started
The more I run, the more I want to run, and the more I live a life conditioned and influenced and fashioned by my running. And the more I run, the more certain I am that I am heading for my real goal: to become the person I am.
Ask me to play. I'll play. Ask me to shoot. I'll shoot. Ask me to pass. I'll pass. Ask me to steal, block out, sacrifice, lead, dominate. Anything. But it's not what you ask of me. It's what I ask of myself.
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