I think it really comes down to a question of whether you want it or not. Look at Jamie Kennedy. The internet basically gave him the opportunity to reinvent himself like no other medium possibly could, and what happened? He posts like every 2 months.
That’s the thing, no one’s got a gun to your head forcing you towards the good life. No one cares if you do anything–let alone something well. Only you. So is hard work the exception or is it the rule in your life? And I don’t mean do you work long hours, or if you spend all night studying. Quantity has never mattered to anyone but the person making rationalizations. Only results, effort, growth–quality–matter. So do you take advantage of opportunity? And when you do, do you clear cut/scorch the earth and take every single resource you can?
I’m not there yet. Sometimes I realize I spent all day just dicking around. Or, that I’m waiting for someone to hand me something instead of just fucking taking it. But then I catch myself and respond by identifying something tangible to get back in the groove. “Finish this book.” “Write this.” “Send these emails.” The productive groove–do you have one?
I’ll end with Rand: “It was like advancing through empty rooms. Nobody opposed her, yet nobody approved of her progress.” It was like advancing through empty rooms.