I Want I Do I Get: The Power of Action-Oriented Thinking for Success

The Six Words That Summarize Success
Wanting Something is Not Enough
Doing is Indispensable for Success
The Connection Between What You Want and What You Get
The I Want I Do I Get Audit: A Closer Look
Defining Your Wants and Calculating the Costs
The Importance of Being Clear About What You Want to Get

The Six Words That Summarize Success

Success means different things to different people, but there’s one thing that is common to every success story: action. One of reggae’s top artists, Jimmy Cliff, captured the essence of success in just six words: “I want I do I get.” These six words are not just catchy; they are a powerful way of connecting what you want with what you will achieve. So, what do these six words mean, and how can you use them to achieve success in your life?

Wanting Something is Not Enough

The first part of the equation is “I want.” This is where it all starts – with a desire for something better or different. It could be a better life, more money, a better job, or anything else you dream about and long for. You desire it, you daydream about it, you yearn for it. But that’s not enough. Wanting something is just the beginning – it will not move you closer to your goal. The key is to turn your wants into action.

Doing is Indispensable for Success

The second part of the equation is “I do.” This is where the magic happens. All the wanting in the world is not going to move you one inch closer to what you want – you have to do something about it. You have to find a better job, change jobs, take risks, try new things, stop doing old things, go to college, work, act, do. The doing is the absolutely indispensable connection between what you want and what you get.

The Connection Between What You Want and What You Get

The final part of the equation is “I get.” This is where you finally achieve your goal – not easily, and not as quickly as movies and television portray – but it will come if you keep doing what needs to be done. The key is to keep adjusting what you do to move you closer to what you want.

The I Want I Do I Get Audit: A Closer Look

If these six words connect with you, maybe it’s time to do your “I want I do I get” audit. This audit will help you get clear on what you want, what you are prepared to do about it, and what you want to get in return.

Defining Your Wants and Calculating the Costs

The first step is to find a quiet place where you can be alone and ask and answer this deceptively simple question: What do you want? Not what your boss, parents, relatives, friends, or significant other want – what do you want? What matters to you that you’re prepared to spend your days, weeks, maybe years getting? Be honest with yourself – the stakes are high. More than a few people have wasted their lives because they never really asked themselves what they really wanted.

After you’ve gotten clear on what you want, the next step is to figure out what you are prepared to do about it. When you start looking at what it will cost to get what you want, you may decide that the price is too high. That’s fine. The more you understand the cost, the better you will appreciate the value. Don’t be surprised if you go back and forth between clarifying your wants and calculating the costs of what you want – and that’s a good thing.

The Importance of Being Clear About What You Want to Get

The final step is to define what you want to get. You have to be clear about what you want to achieve, so take the time to think through what you want to get really looks like.

One final philosophical note about these six words: notice that “I” is three of them? Not what others want, not what others say you are “supposed” or “should” do. What’s more, no one is going to do it for you. You are the key to making these six words work.

In conclusion, “I want I do I get” is a powerful way of connecting what you want with what you will achieve. It’s not enough to just want something – you have to take action to make it happen. If you keep doing what needs to be done, you will eventually achieve your goal. So, get clear on what you want, figure out what you are prepared to do about it, and define what you want to get.