Three days ago I went on my annual retreat. It is a personal audit time I have with God and myself each year. This year I got up early, packed my notebook, pen, Bible, journal, iPod, laptop and lawn chair, and drove to Cypress Grove Park in south Orlando.

While at the park, I saw a water skier on the lake – and it is cold (remember it was December 30)! It was in the low 40 degree range. The skier had a wet suit on, but the thought hit me that he was determined to do what is in his heart to do. He just made preparations with the wet suit and boots so that he could accomplish what he set out to do, which was become a great skier apparently.

There are so many obvious parallels in many areas of life. Unexpected circumstances arise; bad conditions of one type or another happen; life just doesn't play out like we hoped or expected. So what do you do if you want to succeed? Do whatever it takes!

Successful people in any realm of life, realize that success is not easy and that obstacles will arise. So they plan for situations, develop methods and resources to press through those circumstances, and then they press forward.

Do what you need to do, so that you can to do what you need to do.

Read more: It Is Worth It All