Every successful person has a unique journey and experience, be it the likes of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Jack Ma, Mark Zuckerberg and closer home to Dhirubhai Ambani, Ratan Tata. Well they aren’t super humans but did things differently than most people. What was different? Well, there are some common traits that define all of them and is the reason behind who they are today. So if you want to achieve something big in life, here are 7 things you should immediately stop doing –
Making excuses – We all make our own choices and our own mistakes. Our actions define us and it is important that we own up to the good and bad of every decision taken and not wriggle out of the consequences. People who are successful are never seen making excuses or justifying their errors. Many of the successful people we know achieved success after several failed attempts. If you’ve made a mistake, own up to it and find a way out.
Fearing failure – “If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign that you are not doing anything innovative”. We think this statement by Woody Allen says it all. Most successful people do not fear taking the road not taken. If you’re comfortable following the crowd or simply doing what has been done before, success is far from your grasp. Take chances, explore new territories and don’t look down upon failure, use it as an opportunity to learn and grow.
Doubting yourself – If you don’t believe in yourself, you will never be able to convince others to believe in you. Be confident and hold your head high no matter the obstacles that may come your way. Successful people never undermine themselves or let hurdles stop them from believing in their vision. So if you’re constantly questioning yourself, it’s time for a quick attitude check.
Getting distracted – Time is money and we all agree. You need to do away with daily distractions that are obstructing your way to success. Do you find yourself saying ‘but’ too often? I was going to do this but…I had a great idea but…I started speaking to a few people but…Find out the reasons for your distraction, it could simply be spending too much time on social media, and get them out of your life. Successful people never have a ‘but’ in their day so if you’ve set out to do something, then do it.
Waiting for the right time – There is no such thing as a right time. In order to be successful you need to define your own goals and vision and follow them through. If you keep saying ‘this isn’t a good time’, chances are there never will be one. Be honest and sincere to yourself and what you’ve set out to achieve. Hard work always pays off so don’t sit around for a good time to knock on your door.
Being ungrateful – While you’re working your way up the ladder, don’t forget people who have put their faith in you. It’s easy to get clouded by success but you need to be grateful for what you have – be it in terms of finances, friends and family.
Giving up – “It takes a dream to get started, desire to keep going and determination to finish.” Giving up or letting go of your dreams is the biggest obstacle to your success. Success cannot be achieved overnight so you need to keep going. If one idea fails, try another. If one door closes, find another. Steve Jobs was fired from Apple but he found his way back in, Walt Disney’s ideas always faced rejection when he started out but he ended up building Disney into an empire. They never gave up and neither should you.
Take a cue and learn from the habits of successful people that can change your life.
