Take a moment and think of someone you consider to be truly successful. It could be someone you know, a family member or a friend. Perhaps you are thinking of a public figure, celebrity, athlete, businessperson or politician. What makes this individual successful? What about them, their lives and their goals, has led you to consider them a model of success?
There are a few key characteristics that successful individuals often share:
- Self-discipline
- Persistence in the face of obstacles
- Positive mental attitude
- Prioritization of goals
Each of these characteristics plays a critical role in the overall achievement of your goals. Have you ever tried to lose weight and get in shape without possessing a significant amount of self-discipline and perseverance in the face of setbacks or obstacles? Let me tell you, it doesn’t work very well. Likewise, your business startup isn’t going to get very far off the ground if you don’t carve out time in your schedule to make your business a priority.
However, despite the great importance of each of the traits listed above, there is another key characteristic of highly successful men and women that lay a foundation for all the rest: belief. In order to be successful in any venture or achieving any goal, you must first believe that your goals are attainable and worthwhile and that you as an individual have what it takes to achieve those goals. There is not a successful man or woman on this planet that got where they are without first believing that the success they dreamed of was indeed possible and that they were more than capable of achieving their goals.
This may sound somewhat simple and straightforward. After all, why set a goal that you don’t believe is possible? However, our initial enthusiasm is often hindered by negative self-talk that begins almost as quickly as the dream itself. Before we have a chance to really activate our dreams and begin working towards our goals, our minds often begin spinning with “what if” questions and excuses.
People are naturally risk-averse. To some extent, this is a good thing, a natural survival response bred into all living things since the beginning of time. However, there is a significant difference between healthy caution while considering new ventures and being paralyzed by the excuses and lies that we tell ourselves about our goals and our ability to achieve them. Excuses are poison for activation. When we allow ourselves to listen to the voice of self-deception and rationalization, we surrender our passion for achievement and prioritize the safety and comfort of our current situation over the vast potential that may come from achieving our goals.
Excuses can have a significant and detrimental effect on our success before we even have a chance to begin.
“Ninety-nine percent of failures come from people who have a habit of making excuses.”
George Washington Carver
Perhaps you’ve found yourself in the position of surrendering a goal or dream before you’ve had a chance to truly make it happen. Maybe you’re a serial goal-setter but a relatively low achiever. If this is you, you’re not alone. We’ve all had moments where we’ve given up before we should, when we’ve allowed ourselves to be consumed and hindered by our own excuses. However, this doesn’t have to be your reality. True progress towards success begins with identifying and dismissing the excuses you routinely make.
Common Excuses and Limiting Beliefs that Block Success
- I am too not (young, old, smart, pretty, strong, etc.) enough.
- Other people are better than me. I don’t have what it takes.
- It will take too long to reach my goals. In fact, they could be unattainable.
- It’s too hard, too much work. I am already too busy.
- It’s selfish (I feel guilty) when I prioritize myself.
- My life is fine as it is. I might disrupt it.
Chances are one or two of these excuses may feel all too relatable. For many individuals, there is a core lie or two that routinely hinders their progress towards any goal. These lies become like “habits” of self-talk. They are so familiar that we stop recognizing when we are making these excuses. Just like any other bad habit, these patterns of self-deception need to be interrupted, challenged and reshaped. Reshaping our habits is a process which begins by taking an honest look at ourselves and identifying our challenges.
Take some time and reflect on your own life, both your successes and your failures – or as we like to say, your life lessons. In reflecting on these moments, we can learn valuable information about both our strengths and habitual excuses. We can recognize the limiting, deceptive stories that we tell ourselves in order to identify and dismiss these lies in the critical moments when they threaten our progress. Ask yourself:
- What are my moments of greatest success? What made these moments different from others?
- What are my moments of greatest failure? What lies about myself or my goals did I tell myself in those moments?
- Are there recognizable patterns in the stories I tell myself? Are there certain excuses I regularly make
Once you’ve identified your “core lies” or “habitual excuses,” be vigilant and pay attention. These deceptions are likely going to keep popping up. Good habits aren’t formed, and bad habits aren’t replaced in a single day. It takes time, awareness, and an intentional choice to reject the lies and excuses as they arise and to keep moving forward towards our goals. As an achievement coach, I am well acquainted with both the struggles and victories that lie on the path towards success. I provide weekly tools and tips to support you on this journey through my blog and the No Labels No Limits podcast. Sign up HERE to receive notifications and updates about new content.
Resources:
https://thriveglobal.com/stories/11-traits-of-highly-successful-people/
