I've heard a saying:

Willpower > Karma > Ability.

At first, it sounds abstract, but in this era, it's actually very practical.

Willpower, to put it bluntly, is about who you truly want to become and whether you're willing to keep betting on it.

In today's world, tools, resources, and information are rapidly leveling out. What's truly scarce isn't ability, but people who "clearly envision their long-term direction."

Those with strong willpower will continuously move toward their goals early on, even if the path requires repeated adjustments—their direction rarely wavers.

Karma can be understood as what you've done in the past, what you've accumulated, and the inertia you're forming.

The fields you invest in long-term, your behavioral patterns, and what you choose to do (or not do) every day will gradually shape where you end up.

Many people aren't lacking in ability, but they keep exhausting themselves in the wrong inertia—that's karma holding them back.

Ability is actually the most overrated factor.

In the AI era, ability itself is becoming increasingly replaceable.

Knowing how to code, draft plans, or analyze data is no longer a rarity.

Ability matters, but it only determines whether you "can do it," not "where you'll go."

That's why they say:

Willpower determines direction, karma determines the path, and ability determines speed.

What truly need attention in this era are:

Don't just compete on ability while ignoring who you want to become in the long run;

Don't just stress over immediate results without correcting your daily choices.