How To Become Successful In Life – 5 Common Mistakes You Can Easily Avoid
Filed under Help, Life Coaching, Motivation
You can learn how to be successful. Lets get that out of the way before I say anything else.
Success is very easy to come by. It’s so easy in fact, that most people out there just don’t believe it when you tell them so.
There are a few common mistakes that people make in their quest to learn how to become successful in life.
Here are 5:
1. Lack of Self-Belief
As I said above, the top reason people fail to be successful, is because they don’t believe its possible. If you hold the belief that you can’t do it, then guess what – you can’t! On the other hand. If you believe you can, then the stars will almost seem to magically align as you progress. Its imperative that you maintain good thoughts about success, and this is exactly what successful people do. Motivational thoughts on success can keep you on track and keep your eye on the ball, and if you take the time to look at any success models that are out there, you will will find that having a solid belief in your own abilities is one of the key success factors.
2. Fear of success
This is tied closely to beliefs. Learning to be successful, requires a heck of a lot of failure. You gotta fake it till you make it, so the saying goes – And its true. The more times you fail, the closer you get to success. The true winners, are the losers (until they finally win). And then when you win… Then what? For some people, the idea of actually achieving success is so alien to them that subconsciously they sabotage their own efforts. Make it clear in your mind what you want, and then as time goes on, and the milestones start to come and go, make sure that you take regular time outs to appreciate all your achievements to date.
3. Lack of consistency
You cannot progress in any field, unless you give it your undivided attention over and over and over and over. The period of time it takes to become successful, depends on what you are trying to achieve, but what is always present is a need to be consistent. If you only put in the effort once, and then move on like the rest of the world, then you will never make it. To be consistent, set a time slot in your schedule every day, and keep a diary of days that you work and days that you don’t.
This is the most effective way I know of to train consistency. Use it!
4. Lack Of Determination
Similar to consistency, you have to have that burning desire, that need be successful. If you don’t have a wish to achieve, then you simply don’t want it enough (this will become apparent if you log your consistency and you are spending most of your time analyzing instead of taking action). Understand in your mind, why you want it. Fuel the fire and ignite your passion. Though we loath to admit it, success is counted sweetest when we want it more then anything.
5. No Self Reward
A big reason why some people are considered ‘born losers’, is because they never ever give themselves a pat on the back when they achieve something. The positive feedback loop of self reward is absolutely vital to success. If you take action and then make yourself feel bad for doing so, then you aren’t going to stick it out for very long. Learn to reward yourself for moving ever closer to your success, no matter how small a step it may be.
If you can avoid the above common mistakes, then you are well on your way to getting to your goals. Keep going, and you will learn how to be successful and soar to success in due time. Ultimately, you must find your own meaning of success, and define success for yourself. The above points are merely a few red flags and points to avoid as your progress.
Book Recommendation
Napoleon Hill Law Of Success – Napoleon Hill’s books are well known as the go to books for learning how to get success in life. I recommend reading Napoleon Hill’s Keys to Success as it basically gives you everything you need and thoroughly explains all the critical success factors and principles to achieve your goals in your chosen field.
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It is cruel to tell people that they can become successful if they simply change their attitude. People become successful because they are extraordinarily talented, creative, communicative, attractive and so on. If you are dim and ugly, you can be mega-focused and confident, work 24/7 and still achieve nothing.
The title of the article is “5 common mistakes” and is not meant to be a one stop shop explanation of success. Despite this you raise a few interesting points:
1. A healthy attitude is not the be and end all for success, but it is a requirement.
2. Success has several traits (you mentioned a few as an example).
Where I disagree with your response is that you state that ‘dim and ugly’ people are unable to attain success, and leads me to a 3rd point:
3. Success is in the eye of the beholder.
Success can be both positive (a successful millionaire) or negative (a successful alcoholic), and success is relative to the person performing the actions. Its no-ones place to say whether another person is successful, as success is something that comes from and originates from within the individual.
You see true success brings with it a kind of freedom from worry, and extends to every living person on this planet, no matter what level or creed. You’re individual goal is to find out what success means to you – and only then can you pursue it (avoiding mistakes along the way).
I am a scientist myself and communicate with lots of top people in my field. Many of them show an astonishing lack of confidence, at the same time some do not work hard at all, yet they are super-good at their work and get jobs at top universities simply because they are very talented.
You are saying that dim and ugly people can be successful: do you know an example of a genuine personal success achieved by such a person?
Success is basically based on one or more of the three components: money/power and fame/respect within a certain social group. Success can not be negative, you are confusing it with something else. Being outstanding in some negative way does not mean being successful. I have never heard such an expression – ‘successful alcoholic’.
Success does NOT originate from within the individual: you can only be successful if you are doing significantly better than the average in your reference group, and this is confirmed by others.
I agree that you have to decide yourself what sort of success you want to achieve, but the options are rather limited, and the outcome is judged by others, not you. You have to do something outstanding in the eyes of others no matter how difficult it is for you…
To say that someone is ‘dim’ or ‘ugly’ is to make an external value judgement on them, that has no bearing on their own personal achievements.
If you were the one being labelled as ‘dim’ and ‘ugly’, would that make you any less of a success?
The answer to that would depend on whether you define success as primarily internal or external. Experience tells me that those with positive success tend to operate from an internal to external perspective, and the display of these personality traits form the basis of my article. Such people are seen as outstanding due to the rarity of their characteristics, possessing a seemingly precarious balance of grand self delusion and self criticism that somehow fuels and maintains their own ability to be successful in the face of adversity. In the world of psychology, there is a name for this concept – ‘locus of control’
My focus is not to compete and define the ‘true’ way of success, rather it is to outline to those that feel unsuccessful, that the long road starts from within.
Thanks for the response…Perhaps someone else has something to add?
very well said.nice.
Violetta, you are an idiot. I hope you read this one day and realize what a fool you’ve made of yourself. Being labeled as ‘ugly’ is usually what others have made them believe about themselves, and if their mindset is set on success, looks never matter. Was Socrates a good looking man?
Violetta I would have to strongly disagree with you. There are numerous people in the world who I’ll admit aren’t the prettiest to look at but at the same time are extremely successful and not just because they were given money but because they too are extraordinarily talented, creative, and communicative. We always here in movies and in real life that the nerds are the ones who become the CEO’S and for the most part its very much true just look at multi billionaire Bill Gates. The point is you don’t have to be attractive to be successful.
Personally i think it is all about your state of mind, if you focus all your energy into something and accept that you may have to make certain sacrifices to accomplish your dreams then i think anything is possible. Just remember you will always have people that doubt your abilities, just stay positive and focused and dreams can become reality
For me being successful involves a basic plan which i have tried and tested over many things in the past.But that plan my vary individual to individual and so does the factors. For example different situation require different traits by which people can shine through; like a competitive business situation might require quick thinking.Hence the plan and the various attributes vary within the population. For me the plan works everytime because I can imagine it being successful in my mind and that picture gives me belief.But I agree the above said facts by the author increase the chance to achieve somehting .
Sir I have openly spoken my mind about my experiences , I would like to hear your comments.
I agree with what you said about believing in yourself and having faith makes one successful. Success starts in our mind and once it’s printed it will come true. Because I get everything that I dream and wants because I believe everything is possible and things will happens and come true on the right time. Anyways I love your article.
Violetta. that is so untrue. Your mindset is a major factor. Being successful has nothing to do with look’s at all. If you have it set in your mind and put the action behind it you will achieve it. Being successful is not just obtaining wealth, you can be wealthy and still have lack in your life. Success means to have nothing missing nothing wanted and nothing needed in your life. We all have access to it. The issue is some of us want it more than others. We have me mislead to believe that wealth= successful.
I feel successful is nothing more then a feeling within that person. Being successful has everything to do with what you realy want out of life like your dreams, its as simple as that. Each person has a different dream that they want to acomplish out of their lives whether its is becomeing a successful buisness person, professional ball player, or something as simple as becoming a parent and raising children and haveing a nice home. Being Successful is all about what you consider to be satisfying. You can spend your entire life trying to get rich if thats what “you” consider to be successful but you will never take it with you when you leave this earth…so my goal is to just be happy!
Believe and Implement, you won’t become successful without struggling for it,
You need to make effort and to dedicate your life what will make you successful
Basically, what the way I see being successful as to do with dedication and hardwork.succes does not come on a platter of gold you jst have to work for it and within a twinkle of an eye u ve made it.
Success requires – alignment of many parameters:
1. Discipline – That’s what everyone describes as ‘giving it your all’
2. Willingness to Learn
3. PR – you have to have a right set of spokespeople who believe in you as much if not more in you as you do yourself
4. Transactions – correct transactions over a period of time
5. Luck – ‘of opportunity’
6. FOCUS – like 007
Decent article. Not quite sure where that Violetta lady was coming from but I think she was missing the point of the article that it really does all come down to a persons mindset.
Violetta is a “scientist” and apparently believes that gives her the right to judge others due to her high degree of education. Her comments make me want to vomit. If you have the correct mindset and the determination to succeed you can do it regardless of what small minded people think of you or those who may try to discourage you!
I don’t really agree with the fake it until you make it premise. Anyone can achieve a little success and if you display your successes as they happen others will see you as more like them and get them thinking “if he or she can do it, so can I!” Nice article.
Good information. Lucky me I found your site by accident (stumbleupon).
I’ve saved it for later!