The definition of success varies from person to person, but for the most part, the universal definition is to reach a point in which you are sustainably thriving. And while many different factors contribute to success, the majority of the equation lies in our daily actions.
Successful people understand that to get better, they have to maintain a certain level of self-awareness about how they carry themselves and the habits they engage in. If something doesn’t work or hinders their progress, they understand they must let go of that path and try something different. When something does work, they understand that they are on the right track.
Part of this process involves noticing when a mistake has been made and making a point to not continue making the same mistake. It has been said that the very definition of insanity is to continue making the same mistake while expecting a different result.
And to put it simply: successful people are not insane. They learn from their mistakes and move forward. If you are interested to see what they opt to steer clear of, here are 12 examples.
1. Ignoring their intuition.
Successful people realize that their intuition is their best asset. Intuition is something we have as an instinct for a reason. It allows us to know when something is right for us or wrong for us. And after the successful person fails to trust their intuition once, they never will again.
2. Failing to ask difficult questions.
No one wants to be difficult, but it’s important to ask whatever questions resonate to understand any and every situation better. While it may be tempting to stay in a safe zone to avoid making others upset, successful people realize it has to be done.
3. Believing they know everything.
There’s an old saying, from Socrates, that says, “I know that I know nothing,” and successful people live by this motto. Perhaps one of the most important realizations we can have, is that at any given time, we could and likely are wrong about something we thought we knew everything about. Understanding that you don’t know everything gives you room to grow.
4. Believing there is only one pathway to their goals.
When many people set out to achieve their biggest goals, they may only see one path. At first, they will believe “this is the one true way, there is no other way,” only to end up failing on that route. Then, they are faced with two options: refuse to admit that another route could be better, or try another route and see how it pans out. Successful people realize that there is more than one pathway towards the desired outcome.
5. Wasting their energy on things beyond their control.
In life, there will be things we can control and things we cannot. When it comes to things beyond our control, on a primal level, we may want to continue to try to stubbornly take control and change the circumstances. But to do so is a waste of time, and successful people realize that.
6. Relying on emotion, rather than logic.
In therapy, cognitive behavior is used to help people live more successful lives. One of the fundamental aspects of this therapy is transitioning your mindset from emotional thinking to rational thinking. When we think based on our emotions, all sorts of trouble can ensue and successful people know that. Instead, they rely on their logic.
7. Playing it safe.
It can be tempting to play it safe and to refuse to take risks, but that has never gotten anyone anywhere. If you want to achieve big, you have to take risks. And successful people realize this.
8. Believing perfection exists.
Many successful people may start off striving for perfection, however, pretty quickly they realize that perfection isn’t attainable. Having high standards is wonderful, especially if you want to grow and achieve more, but when your standards are perfection, you will always be disappointed.
9. Having a negative attitude.
Part of being successful involves the ability to see life from another perspective. You have to be able to visualize success and see the bright side in situations that could be taken either way. Successful people know that negativity is not only a waste of time but is also a destroyer of success.
10. Focusing on too much at one time.
When you are on the road to success, it can be tempting to try to tackle everything at once. But, when you do so, you will almost certainly become bogged down and dismayed. At the very least, you will end up not being able to give your full attention to any of the things you are trying to accomplish, making it much harder to be your best at anything.
11. Failing to schedule.
Dennis Najjar spoke with CNBC and is a self-made millionaire. According to him, “As an entrepreneur, I get things are done by sticking to one rule: Scheduling and organizing every single thing I commit to. It might sound like a no-brainer, but most people fail to do this.
If you can get into the rhythm of assigning yourself tasks and calendar appointments, you’ll never find yourself struggling to remember all the things you already forgot at 3 a.m.”
12. Trying to control everything.
Trying to control everything is only going to lead you to feel destroyed. It’s impossible to control everything, and to try will leave you feeling as though everything is beyond your control. Focus on what you can control, and let the rest fall to the wayside.