I'm utterly convinced that a key element of personal and business success is the ability to differentiate correctly between "I can't" and "I won't."
As a rule, when somebody "can't" do something, it's because he or she lacks the skill to do it; when somebody "won't" do something, it's because he or she lacks the will to do it.
Here's a basic example:
Though that distinction seems pretty clear, the losers in this world often say "I can't" when they mean "I won't":
Losers substitute "I can't" for "I won't" because it lets them off the hook. Because the activity is something they "can't" do, they can't reasonably be expected to do it. Their failure is therefore not really their fault. (Oh, really?)
By contrast, the winners in the world are more precise. They use "I can't" as a signal that they need to improve a skill, and they use "I won't" as a statement that they've made a decision.
By using "I can't" and "I won't" appropriately, winners take responsibility for their actions rather than making excuses. That's a major reason they're so successful.
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