Jocko Willink, a former Navy Seal who speaks and writes about leadership and discipline, asserts you will grow if you ask yourself seven questions every day and then act accordingly, based on your answers.

I will spend the next few days reviewing each question one at a time. Here’s the seventh and final question:

Is this everything I can give? 

Some of us try to get by with as little effort as possible. It’s a temptation.

As a young student, I tried to get by on my talent. It worked for a while.

Eventually, those with talent who also worked hard, rose to the top. I became a “middle of the pack” guy.

I had a teacher describe me once as “apathetic.” Being apathetic means one doesn’t care.

I didn’t love that feedback. It got my competitive juices flowing. I jacked my effort up and became one of the best performers in the class.

We control our effort. We are the only ones who know whether we are giving all that we can give. It’s a skill to be able to make a consistent, top effort.

Those who consistently give all they have will develop satisfaction from knowing they have fulfilled their potential.

Those who consistently give less than they could face a life filled with disappointment and regret.