I know many people are looking for all kinds of tips and tricks on efficiency, lifehacks and maybe most of all, motivation to do things in their work and personal lives. I know I’ve looked around on Google for some ideas on motivation and getting things done, but a certain line from a movie I really like came to the forefront of my memory.

“If only I had the Glengarry leads.”

The movie is Glengarry Glen Ross and the line refers to desperate salesmen trying to get the good clients from their boss so that they can keep their job. The idea here is that while these guys are idle and complaining about their job security, those leads are just in a filing cabinet that would not only get them to work, but also to keep their jobs. Like procrastinating students, they half-heartedly give attempts at the leads they do have and try to steal the good leads in the night.

There’s always the idea hanging around that you can get working only under the best circumstances. If only I had a nicer desk, if only I had a study-focused playlist, if only I had some Japanese gel pens; hmm maybe I’ll buy some.

The point that Alec Baldwin makes in his monologue to start the movie is that he won’t give them to the salesmen because it would be a waste. They would not be of any use because they have not proven themselves to be good enough at their jobs to be given that kind of responsibility.

Those leads may be good, but they won’t magically make them better salesmen.

The parallel to school is clear with all the procrastination that goes on, but for life in general, anything that requires some kind of creativity must be overcome by what is around you. Things usually don’t work out as well as they do in your head, but you should get acquainted with how the process works. How can you make something worthwhile when you’re tired, have a headache and keep getting distracted?

You keep at it while all those things try to pull you down.

The results from pushing through all the doubt and fatigue may even be surprising. Go ask an artist how many times they may have wanted to quit halfway through a piece, but stuck with it and actually liked how the result turned out.

The process of working will not be glamorous, but know that anything worthwhile was able to overcome the same circumstances that you’re going through right now.