If you want success, figure out the price, then pay it. — Scott Adams

Success always has a price.

The price of becoming a doctor is spending much of your 20s with your nose in a book (not to mention accruing a mountain of student loan debt). But if you pay the price, you get to spend a lucrative career unambiguously helping people.

The price of attaining a job in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra is spending your youth in a practice room (not to mention working nights and weekends, when most of your friends and family are off). But if you pay the price, you get to make music for a living—a very good living—with some of the best musicians in the world.

The price of becoming a professional athlete is training harder than most people can imagine for years on end (not to mention having your work performance picked apart on ESPN). But if you pay the price, you get to entertain millions of people and make millions of dollars in the process.

Whatever flavor of success we choose to pursue, there’s a price. Success doesn’t go on sale, and payment is due up front (whereas failure sends us a bill later). Our goal must be to pay full price, and to pay it daily.