Behaviours Blocking Your Success

Success means many different things to many different people. You ask ten people their definition of success, and you might get ten different answers. The common denominator is that most of us are striving to achieve it. No matter what the definition, success is something we all crave. Craving success is one thing; achieving it is another. The number one obstacle in our path to success is ...us! If you exhibit any of the nine behaviours below, you might be blocking your success path without knowing it.

Making Excuses

Making excuses is one of many ways we can self-sabotage. If you are constantly making excuses about why you can't do something, why you failed or blaming other people for your lack of success, it is time to take a long look inward.

Doing It All Yourself

Are you the type of person that needs to control every single detail? If so, you might be blocking your road to success. While self-reliance is typically a good thing, trying to do everything yourself is likely going to stall your success. Let go, delegate the minutiae, and focus your efforts on high-impact actions.

Giving Up Too Easily

Life is essentially how we spend our time between obstacles. No matter who you are, you will have to deal with setbacks, failures, and other obstacles. How you respond to these obstacles will define your success (or lack thereof). If you just give up in the face of difficulty, you will never achieve your goals.

Fear Dictates Your Decisions

Fear is an important evolutionary emotion that keeps us safe. Don't be ashamed to feel it. However, you can't let it dictate all your decisions. Success requires bold thinking and action. There will be times when you must ignore your fear and step out of your comfort zone.

Too Much Multitasking

Multitasking was all the rage about a decade ago. It sounds great, you get to accomplish more things all at once! The reality is, that you aren't accomplishing more; you are just spreading your focus and energy thin. Would you rather do 5 things poorly or accomplish one thing perfectly? That is often the trade-off you make when multitasking.

People Pleasing

Being able to get along with other people is a wonderful trait that will get you far. However, there is a difference between being personable and being a pushover. You need to make sure that you balance your affability with a backbone. To start - practice saying "no" more often.

Hitting the Self-Destruct Button

Sometimes self-sabotage can do more than stall your success. Sometimes it can be downright dangerous. Leaning on self-destructive habits to get through your day is not healthy. If you are relying on drugs, alcohol or any other serious bad habit, you need to talk to a professional. It isn't just your success at stake.

You Yo-Yo

Sometimes you care, and sometimes you don't. Sometimes you try, and sometimes you don't. You are excited about your goals this week but won't even consider them next. If any of that seems familiar, you might be "yo-yoing". Success requires consistency. If you want to succeed, you can't be all in one moment and then not care the next.

Beating Yourself Up

Did you read through this list and then berate yourself for any behaviours you exhibit? This needs to stop. Everyone has issues, and everyone makes mistakes. You can't beat yourself up for this. If you fail at something, try not to get lost in thoughts of "I failed, I'm no good". Instead, ask yourself what you learned from that failure and move on. Treat yourself as kindly as you'd treat your best friend.