A filtering funnel — each condition must hold. Most people fall short before they even begin.
1
Awareness
Do they believe there's a problem?
The most fundamental gate. If someone doesn't even acknowledge a problem exists, nothing else matters. You can't fix what you refuse to see.
2
Desire
Do they actually want to solve it?
Knowing a problem exists and wanting to fix it are completely different things. Many people are comfortable with their dysfunction — or at least more comfortable than they'd be doing the work.
3
Self-Awareness
Do they see their own role in it?
Can they look in the mirror? Do they recognise how they contributed to the problem, or how they're reacting to it? Without ownership, solutions become blame games.
4
Capability
Can they figure out a real solution?
Not surface-level fixes. Not generic advice. An actual, nuanced solution that accounts for the real complexity of the situation.
5
Execution
Can they actually execute?
The final filter. Plans mean nothing without follow-through. Can they turn intention into sustained action?