Success is just a state of mind. So, in order to be successful, you must commit to planning your life around one impassioned goal or ambition. Before making that great leap of faith, there are several things that you need to delete from your life so that you can be prepared when your chance comes along.
Here are the 12 essential habits that you need to cut out of your life immediately in order to be successful:
1. Stop underachieving, start overachieving.
Everything in life worth achieving is worth overachieving. Always set very attainable goals for yourself and never fall short of the mark. It’s great to be ambitious, but if you’re constantly coming up short it can be demoralizing and kill your motivation.
2. Stop multitasking and focus.
Studies have shown that 98 percent of humans cannot successfully multitask. Next time you’re trying to be productive, try shutting down every tab on your computer except for the ones that relate to the task at hand. Turn off your notifications and use 100 percent of your focus on that task. You will see a tremendous boost in your productivity.
3. Stop checking social media while you’re working.
Social media platforms create a maze of links and posts that are designed to keep you hooked. It is a major time drain and one that does not contribute to success. Instead of checking Instagram and Facebook on your breaks, read the New York Times or TechCrunch so you can bring something truly meaningful to your next conversation.
4. Don’t compare yourself to anyone.
This will never end well. There will always be someone out there who is smarter, wealthier, more successful and better looking than you. Thinking like this is a distraction, focus on you and you alone. Most importantly, focus on winning your short-term goals and the dominoes of success will start to fall.
5. Stop wasting time with negative people.
Don’t cause a scene or ruin a friendship. Just limit your availability for those toxic people in your life. Sure, see them once in awhile. But, a negative influence can cause you to lose focus on what is really important.
6. No more excuses.
If you want something, go out there and get it. Don’t create excuses, don’t even create reasons. Reasons are just excuses with makeup on.
7. Be a realist.
Don’t spend those extra five hours meticulously creating fonts and colour schemes for a presentation that only you will notice. This goes into time management. Be efficient and effective. Don’t procrastinate by obsessing over little details that don’t matter in the long run (or maybe even in the short run).
8. No more complaining.
It’s simple. If you think positive and talk positive, positive things will come to you. Keep the glass half full. Levels of optimism and pessimism correlate directly with overall health. Keep those smiles up and frowns down.
9. Stop thinking everything is about you.
Your upset boss isn’t looking to fire you. The Lyft driver isn’t giggling at your tie. They have their own problems, and that’s what they are thinking about. Not you!
10. Don’t carry all the weight on your back.
Sure you are in charge. But, that doesn’t mean that you need to take on every challenge and micromanage your staff. Learn to delegate. The question you should be asking yourself is not, “how can I get this done,” it should be, “how can this get down in the most efficient manner possible.” Usually good enough is all you need.
11. Stop making meetings a priority.
Mark Cuban once said, “never take a meeting unless someone is writing you a check.” Meetings start late, run too long and seldom are very productive. Meetings are time killers. It is always better to make targeted contact with the necessary people throughout the day.
12. Stop using to-do lists.
Start plugging all of your tasks into your calendar. Having your work integrated into a timetable will greatly enhance your efficiency. Spend the necessary time planning out your calendar, and then live by it.
