I’ve long been fascinated by what makes the difference between people who successfully pursue their passion and those who have dreams and desires and yet make little to no progress. Some may put this lack of progress down to bad luck or fate or blame other people or circumstances for their misfortune.

However, when you look at the life journey of those who achieve some success, perhaps professionally, with their relationships, or maybe spiritually, and so on, everyone has obstacles and setbacks to navigate. The difference comes down to one crucial thing: showing up. 

So, what do I mean by “showing up”? One of my favorite inspirational showing-up stories is about the legendary singer Martha Reeves in the early days of Motown Records. There are various versions of this story, but the gist is that although Martha was a very accomplished singer, she couldn’t get a big break. One day, while waiting in the Motown office hoping for an audition, the office was so busy she took the initiative and helped, diligently answering the ‘phones and taking messages. She was immediately offered a job and jumped at the chance, knowing it was “the” place to be at that time should the opportunity knock. Which it did when a singer was needed one day, and she stepped up to the microphone. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas had over a dozen hit singles and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

Martha didn’t want to be a secretary. She could have taken offense at being offered such a position. So, a significant factor in getting where you want to go is carefully considering saying “yes” even if the situation feels “beneath” you. In many circumstances, the right environment can open more doors than hundreds of carefully honed emailed resumes, audition self-tapes, or dating app dates. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, as they say, and if it proves to be a dead end, you can move on and try something else. Showing up also has the additional benefit of bringing much-needed clarity to your dreams once you better understand the realities of that which you desire.

Getting a foot in the door is a great start, but there’s way more to showing up than we might think. Even when it’s not your first choice of how you want to spend your time, don’t just “wing it.” Always bring your “A” game to whatever you are doing, either remotely or in person, and be the one who makes a positive difference with everything you do, and opportunities will surely follow. President Obama summed this up during a recent interview when he said that the most valuable people in life are those who offer solutions rather than bring problems.

One of the things I observe today is the amount of wishing, hoping, and dreaming that comes with a misguided sense of entitlement, of being unique, of being deserving. Successful people have a way of making the hard seem effortlessly accessible, but the reality is that it never is. Having dreams and desires without the grounded actions necessary to show up fully, no matter what, can only lead to frustration, disappointment, and disillusion for everyone involved.

Showing up effectively has three vital commitment components: self-awareness, being fully present, and the resolution and discipline needed for conscious preparation and collaboration. Setting the intention in this way, you will bring your very best. Bringing your very best aligns you with powerful forces beyond rational understanding, such as synchronicity, "co-incidence" and other divine provisions we all need to have air under our wings. In the words of Marie Forleo, “Showing up fully exactly where you are is the fastest way to get where you want to go!