By H. L. Hunt
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
"Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work." This H. L. Hunt quote about priorities stands out for its clear call to action and practical wisdom. In a world full of choices, obligations, and endless opportunities, knowing what truly matters is a skill that shapes success and happiness. This quote carries a powerful message that encourages real focus and personal responsibility, inviting you to reflect on your own goals and what you're willing to do to achieve them.
What Does This Quote Mean?
This H. L. Hunt quote about priorities is all about focus, commitment, and discipline. When H. L. Hunt says, "Decide what you want," he is pointing to the importance of being clear about your true desires or ambitions. This is the starting point for any achievement. Without knowing what you want, making progress feels like taking blind steps—you end up drifting instead of moving forward with intention.
Next, "decide what you are willing to exchange for it" highlights that nothing worth achieving comes without some form of sacrifice. Time, comfort, energy, or temporary pleasures might be traded in the pursuit of your main goal. Here, Hunt is realistic: to gain something meaningful, you almost always need to give up something else.
Then, "establish your priorities and go to work" takes this further. It's about ranking what really matters to you and arranging your actions to match. Prioritizing helps cut through distractions and keeps you moving toward your chosen target. But Hunt's advice doesn't end with planning—he urges you to actually take action. Thinking and planning are necessary, but real change happens only when you start working toward your goals, one step at a time.
At a deeper level, this quote speaks about accountability. It reminds you that shaping your life is up to you. If you can be honest about what you truly value, accept the costs involved, and get to work, you are living intentionally. Hunt's words are a straightforward blueprint for anyone wanting real progress, not just wishful thinking.
How Can You Use This Quote in Life?
1. Set a Clear Goal
When applying this H. L. Hunt quote about priorities, start by asking yourself: What do I really want? This should be something you feel passionate about or see as important for your personal or professional growth. It could be getting a promotion, starting a business, building better family relationships, or living more healthfully.
2. Recognize the Trade-Offs
For every worthwhile goal, there will be something else you need to give up. If you want to save money, maybe you eat out less. If you want to run a marathon, you'll give up some leisure time for training. Write down what you're willing to exchange for your goal and review it often. This not only clarifies your choices but also reminds you that every achievement has a cost.
3. Make a List of Priorities
List out your priorities in order. Is your career advancement more important to you than leisure time? Is your health a bigger focus right now than your social life? Being honest helps you avoid spreading yourself too thin and lets you commit fully to what matters most. Adjust your schedule and commitments to make room for your priorities.
4. Take Consistent Action
Once you know your goal and what you're willing to exchange, start working toward it. Small, daily steps build big results over time. If studying for a certification is your priority, set aside a half hour every evening and stick to it. If you want stronger relationships, block off family time each week and protect that time fiercely.
5. Reevaluate Regularly
Life shifts—so should your priorities. Set aside time every few months to look at your progress and see if your priorities still reflect your hopes and circumstances. Rebalancing helps you stay true to what you want most, not just what you wanted years ago.
This process keeps you anchored in purpose. By deciding what really matters, facing the costs honestly, and moving forward with action, you'll find a clear path where you once saw only confusion or guesswork. The H. L. Hunt quote about priorities doesn't promise an easy journey, but it does promise the satisfaction of living on your own terms.
✨ The Motivation Message
You have everything you need to decide your own direction! The secret to a fulfilling life is not waiting for the perfect moment, but deciding what matters to you—and getting to work for it. Everybody faces moments of doubt or exhaustion. The difference is made when you keep showing up and remind yourself why you started! 🚀
Trust yourself to make tough choices, even when sacrifices feel difficult. Every action you take, no matter how small, brings you closer to your priority. Progress is built from ordinary days, steady effort, and the courage to let go of what doesn't serve you anymore.
You are capable of making powerful, life-shaping decisions. Don't just admire your dreams from afar—step toward them! The first chapter of any success story begins with one clear choice, and today is a perfect day to make it. Set your priority, take the first step, and keep moving. The results you want are ahead—go get them!
About the Author
H. L. Hunt, who was born in 1889 and died in 1974, was an American oil tycoon, entrepreneur, and philanthropist known for his relentless drive and shrewd business instincts. The son of a small farmer, Hunt made a series of bold choices that led him from a modest background to becoming one of the wealthiest individuals in the United States during his lifetime.
His philosophy was built around practicality, hard work, and personal accountability. H. L. Hunt believed that great success was possible for anyone willing to be clear about their desires, make tough sacrifices, and work diligently—even in the face of setbacks. This no-nonsense approach is reflected in much of his advice and public statements.
The quote, "Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work," sums up Hunt's broader worldview: clarity and action are the keys to success. Whether in business, personal life, or everyday problem-solving, Hunt's principles urge people to take charge of their fate by making thoughtful choices and putting in the effort needed to turn those choices into reality. His message continues to inspire anyone seeking to build a life of purpose and achievement.
