The road to success is filled with obstacles, detours, and bumpy roads that make the process overwhelming at times. But what if I told you the biggest obstacles to your success aren’t external? In fact, you might be overlooking them in the habits you practice every day, as you are likely not even aware that they are there. I battled against habits for years that quietly sabotaged my progress and kept me from hitting my goals. Only when I took a step back and examined what I was doing did I realize that many of my setbacks were self-imposed. Those habits weren’t even apparent to me at first, but each day, they prevented me from living up to my full potential.
In this article, I’ll be sharing five hidden habits that could be sabotaging your success. I’ve struggled with all of these, and I can tell you that being aware of them was the first step toward actual growth. From procrastinating in the name of planning to the crush of perfectionism, these habits might feel comfortable, but they can be changed. There are ways to break free from their grip so that you can continue moving toward your goals with confidence and clarity. Let’s explore these hidden saboteurs and begin the journey to turning around your success.
If you’ve ever asked yourself, "what is procrastination?", you might already be familiar with how sneaky it can be. Procrastination doesn’t always mean avoiding something. Sometimes, it wears the mask of something that looks like productive behavior...planning. I’ve been trapped in this way of thinking many times, believing I was making good progress by organizing, researching, and preparing for a project. I spent weeks planning step by step exactly what needed to be done, day by day, hour by hour, telling myself how thorough I was being and that this was the approach that would ultimately be successful. I was in the planning phase but never getting to the real projects. The more I tried to plan, the more overwhelmed I felt, and I kept telling myself I wasn’t quite ready to start executing. I thought I just needed to be a little more prepared before I began. But as I kept putting off my decision, I realized I’d made zero progress.
The lesson here is that success comes from taking action, not from endlessly preparing for all possible scenarios. Planning is important, but at a certain point, you have to move forward and start implementing, even when everything isn’t perfectly laid out. There is no “perfect moment” to get started, and you usually learn much more by doing than by preparing endlessly. Be disciplined about how much time you spend planning, and stick to it. Follow the “80/20 Rule”: spend 80% of your time executing and only 20% planning. This ensures you start sooner and don’t get bogged down in the details. The solution to "what is procrastination" in the form of planning? Remember, action leads to progress. Perfectionism is an illusion, and progress only begins when you start moving toward your success.
Fear of failure is a common but powerful obstacle to success. Like many others, I allowed it to dictate many of my decisions, convincing myself that playing it safe was the best course. I was invited to speak at a large event, but I turned it down. I was afraid of making mistakes in front of the audience. I told myself I wasn’t ready, that I wasn’t qualified enough, and that I was bound to fail. Eventually, regret began to creep in. By avoiding failure, I also avoided growth. What I learned is that fear of failure doesn’t prevent failure; it prevents you from trying. Avoiding challenges means missing opportunities to succeed. Failure should not be feared but rather should be a part of the journey. Indeed, it’s often where the best lessons are learned.
Every successful person makes attempts and inevitably faces failure. If you fail, learn from it. I started seeing failure as a stepping stone, not a setback. This shift helped me accept challenges with greater self-confidence. Instead of fixating on how I might fail, I focused on what I could learn through the process. Practice taking small risks regularly. Challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone. Developing a growth mindset is key to overcoming fear. Growth happens when you push your boundaries. Fear of failure will always be present, but it doesn’t have to control you. When you change your mindset and view failure as a lesson, success becomes easier.
For years, I believed the secret to success was ensuring everything I did was perfect. I would spend hours trying to perfect every detail of my projects, telling myself I had to get everything absolutely perfect before moving forward. The pursuit of perfectionism often meant I didn’t finish anything at all. The reality is that perfectionism is an illusion. Pursuing it can stop you from making progress. There will always be something that could be “better” or “more polished,” but chasing that ideal will slow you down. Success doesn’t come from being perfect but from taking action and completing what you start. Done is better than perfect.
To counter perfectionism, prioritize progress. Set deadlines and stick to them. When the time is up, stop tinkering. If something is good enough to move forward, move forward. Allow yourself to be imperfect and make mistakes because it’s part of the process. By letting go of the need for perfectionism, you free yourself to act, make mistakes, and ultimately succeed.
One habit I struggled with was seeking constant validation from others. I ended up relying on others to tell me my value or assess my work. While validation can be helpful, it shouldn’t define you. I recall posting pins I had worked hard on to my Pinterest account, feeling excited to share them. But instead of feeling accomplished, I became obsessed with checking analytics, waiting for views and clicks. When the results didn’t come as quickly as I’d hoped, my excitement turned to self-doubt. I questioned whether my work was good enough, even though deep down, I knew it was. This cycle of doubt and insecurity drained me.
Instead of relying on external validation, work on techniques for boosting confidence. It’s natural to want recognition for your efforts, but constantly seeking it undermines your confidence and leaves you feeling inadequate. Instead, define success by your own sense of fulfillment and pride in your work. Daily habits for success include setting personal benchmarks and celebrating your progress without waiting for others’ acknowledgment. Feedback can be useful, but trust your judgment first.
Negative self-talk is a quiet habit that can chip away at your success. For years, I was my own worst critic, constantly questioning my abilities and second-guessing every decision. If I made a mistake, I would berate myself, believing it meant I wasn’t good enough or deserving of success. When we criticize ourselves, we are setting ourselves up to fail. If you’re constantly doubting yourself and putting all your focus on what could go wrong, you’re preparing yourself to fail before you’ve even begun. With time I learned that these were just stories I was telling myself.
We all have our moments of uncertainty, but what’s important is that we don’t let those moments define us. Be mindful of your self-talk. Replace self-criticism with supportive and empowering thoughts. Treat yourself with the kindness you would offer a friend. Developing a growth mindset will boost your confidence and set you up for success.
In this article, I’ll be sharing five hidden habits that could be sabotaging your success. I’ve struggled with all of these, and I can tell you that being aware of them was the first step toward actual growth. From procrastinating in the name of planning to the crush of perfectionism, these habits might feel comfortable, but they can be changed. There are ways to break free from their grip so that you can continue moving toward your goals with confidence and clarity. Let’s explore these hidden saboteurs and begin the journey to turning around your success.
1. Procrastination Masquerading as Planning
The lesson here is that success comes from taking action, not from endlessly preparing for all possible scenarios. Planning is important, but at a certain point, you have to move forward and start implementing, even when everything isn’t perfectly laid out. There is no “perfect moment” to get started, and you usually learn much more by doing than by preparing endlessly. Be disciplined about how much time you spend planning, and stick to it. Follow the “80/20 Rule”: spend 80% of your time executing and only 20% planning. This ensures you start sooner and don’t get bogged down in the details. The solution to "what is procrastination" in the form of planning? Remember, action leads to progress. Perfectionism is an illusion, and progress only begins when you start moving toward your success.
2. Fear of Failure
Every successful person makes attempts and inevitably faces failure. If you fail, learn from it. I started seeing failure as a stepping stone, not a setback. This shift helped me accept challenges with greater self-confidence. Instead of fixating on how I might fail, I focused on what I could learn through the process. Practice taking small risks regularly. Challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone. Developing a growth mindset is key to overcoming fear. Growth happens when you push your boundaries. Fear of failure will always be present, but it doesn’t have to control you. When you change your mindset and view failure as a lesson, success becomes easier.
3. Trying to Achieve Perfectionism
To counter perfectionism, prioritize progress. Set deadlines and stick to them. When the time is up, stop tinkering. If something is good enough to move forward, move forward. Allow yourself to be imperfect and make mistakes because it’s part of the process. By letting go of the need for perfectionism, you free yourself to act, make mistakes, and ultimately succeed.
4. Constantly Seeking External Validation
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| Credit: Courtesy of stylist.co.uk |
Instead of relying on external validation, work on techniques for boosting confidence. It’s natural to want recognition for your efforts, but constantly seeking it undermines your confidence and leaves you feeling inadequate. Instead, define success by your own sense of fulfillment and pride in your work. Daily habits for success include setting personal benchmarks and celebrating your progress without waiting for others’ acknowledgment. Feedback can be useful, but trust your judgment first.
5. Negative Self-Talk
Negative self-talk is a quiet habit that can chip away at your success. For years, I was my own worst critic, constantly questioning my abilities and second-guessing every decision. If I made a mistake, I would berate myself, believing it meant I wasn’t good enough or deserving of success. When we criticize ourselves, we are setting ourselves up to fail. If you’re constantly doubting yourself and putting all your focus on what could go wrong, you’re preparing yourself to fail before you’ve even begun. With time I learned that these were just stories I was telling myself.
We all have our moments of uncertainty, but what’s important is that we don’t let those moments define us. Be mindful of your self-talk. Replace self-criticism with supportive and empowering thoughts. Treat yourself with the kindness you would offer a friend. Developing a growth mindset will boost your confidence and set you up for success.
Overcoming Hidden Habits: Back in Action
Habits that we shrug off as insignificant can become the biggest roadblocks to our success. What is procrastination? It’s often disguised as planning. Perfectionism and reliance on external approval quietly undermine our growth and hold us back. But awareness is the first step toward breaking free from these hidden saboteurs. By implementing daily habits for success and using techniques for boosting confidence, you can reclaim control. It’s time to get back in action and build lasting momentum toward your goals.Now that you have the techniques to unlock your potential, the only thing left to do is take that first step. Your future self will thank you for it. Let’s make it happen...you’ve got this. If you enjoyed this article, don't forget to like and share with your friends. Make sure to also subscribe to my newsletter to receive new updates from me.
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