Welcome, Guest: Register On Nairaland / LOGIN! / Trending / Recent / NewStats: 3,194,332 members, 7,954,347 topics. Date: Friday, 20 September 2024 at 05:12 PM |
Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Education / 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful (4338 Views)
When You Want To Get 1st-Class But Mosquitoes Vow To Stop You(photo) / 10 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful / Parents Should Stop Doing This Because Of Their Children's Future (2) (3) (4)
9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by Nobody: 10:12pm On Feb 13, 2015 |
The human mind is an incredible thing, and having the right attitude and mindset has routinely been stated by numerous successful people as being a pivotal key to success. Sometimes, however, it is easy to get side-tracked. Situations in life can get in the way of our goals, self-esteem, and personal well- being. Truthfully, success is a subjective term, and everyone will disagree over what constitutes being successful. Here are a list of guidelines, however, of some things to stop doing if you want to be or feel successful. 1. Stop Expecting Perfection Often, we get frustrated when things don’t work out the way we want them to, or as quickly as we’d like them to. We stress over small details, or beat ourselves up for getting one thing wrong, or forgetting to dot one I or cross one T. People are fallible. Mistakes and drawbacks are a fact of life. Nothing is nor will it ever be perfect, and that’s okay. Stressing out over minute details or things that would have been impossible to get to is unproductive and unhealthy. Start saying that you will do your personal best, because at the end of the day, you’re not in competition with anyone but yourself. Example: Jennifer Lawrence is someone who everyone seems to be talking about right now, but did you know she was rejected for the role of Bella Swan in ‘Twilight‘? She also didn’t take theater classes. She just trusted her instincts and worked as hard as possible to land acting roles. Obviously, she wasn’t perfect for every role, but she didn’t expect perfection. She takes her failures and rejections well, trying to learn from each situation. 2. Stop Saying Yes When You Want to Say No It’s always important to know your limits, and people will always try to test them. Human beings are social animals. We want to interact with others and feel like we are a part of something or like we are special to someone else. People also, for the most part, like to please others. Sometimes, however, it’s easy to be taken advantage of. Whether it’s helping a co-worker with something when you can’t really afford to, or loaning a friend money you can’t really afford to give. Out of guilt, people often say yes to people and situations that they really should say no to. Don’t be afraid to trust your gut and say no. Sometimes you can’t stay a few hours later because you had other plans or important errands to run. Sometimes it’s okay to say no to that co-worker that keeps nagging you for help but is really just stalling because they don’t want to work and know you’ll help them. Sometimes it’s okay to prioritize other things over work. Saying no is healthy. Saying no means that you know your boundaries and can demand respect. Example: Margaret Thatcher is known as being tough. She was a powerful politician. She also knew during her career when she had to take a stand, and sometimes that stand meant saying no to bad political and economic policy. 3. Stop Negative Self-Dialogue We all can probably play back in our minds every negative or embarrassing thing we’ve ever done to ourselves, been subjected to, or done to someone else. Whether it’s tripping over one’s shoelaces in the fourth grade, or being fired from a job, wronging someone else, or overhearing someone speaking negatively about us, those thoughts are forever solidified in our minds. Replaying those thoughts, however, and constantly punishing oneself for past mistakes, is counterproductive at certain points. At some point, it’s more important to learn from situations and move on, instead of psychologically beating yourself up. The next time you find yourself saying, “I’m not pretty enough”, “I did this horrible thing once five years ago and I’ll never forgive myself”, or any type of statement along those lines, turn off that negative self-dialogue. Look in the mirror and say something kind to yourself. Read some inspirational quotes. Acknowledge that you are taking steps and making an effort to be a better person. Admit to yourself that everyone makes mistakes, and most importantly, that making mistakes is okay. Example: This article does a good job of listing Steve Job’s failures. We remember him anyway, and we remember him as a pioneer and someone who didn’t give up. When things go wrong, and they often do, it’s easy for us to remember every mistake we have ever made along the way. Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of our goals because of that lack of confidence. Don’t give up and attempt to stay positive. Train your brain to think of things in a new, more positive way. Most of all, keep working hard. Failure doesn’t have to be permanent. 4. Stop Focusing On Just Today Successful people tend to understand the value of a good plan. They plan out their day, their goals, a budget and they plan how much to save for retirement. That doesn’t mean they don’t have fun, though. They most certainly do! They just make sure to plan when it is appropriate and inappropriate to have fun. They make time for productivity and fun, but still save and think about the future. So, stop just focusing on today and having fun. Think about where you want to be in five, 10 or 15 years down the road! Having a good focus aids in success! Example: Neil deGrasse Tyson has been in love with the universe and science since he was nine years old. Because of that love, he worked long-term to study the things he cared about. He was accepted into Harvard where he majored in physics, eventually moving on to advanced education. His list of accomplishments would take up another full article in and of itself. 5. Stop Ignoring Your Goals Stop believing things will just work out for you because you’re a good person. Good things only happen to people who make an effort. A part of making an effort is setting goals for oneself. As evidenced in the previous point, it’s not enough to just focus on the day at hand. It’s important to manage time and set short-term and long-term goals in order to be able to track progress and have something to strive for. Example: Alan Turing is considered the father of artificial intelligence and computers. He also broke the code to the Nazi encryption machine called Enigma. He faced many challenges along the way, such as the inability to identify with others and being charged with indecency, for which he was eventually pardoned. Despite his personal struggles, though, he managed to break the code for Enigma, saving approximately 14 million people from death and in turn helped end World War 2. 6. Stop Isolating People Successful people understand that not everything is about work, church or similar obligations. Some things are about family, relaxation, and hobbies. It’s easy to get the impression that everyone who feels or defines themselves as successful probably has no spare time on their hands, and in some cases, that’s true. However, it isn’t always. Social isolation can kill people. In fact, many successful people have mastered the art of balance. They don’t isolate the people they love because they have large goals or something they want to accomplish. Instead, they incorporate those they love into their goals and hobbies. Example: According to a recent Forbes article, many leaders feel lonely. However, here are 25 examples of social business leaders who seem to thrive on relationships. It’s okay to know how to work alone and prefer that, but it’s also important to be able to rely on your staff, friends, and family for support. Involving people in leadership or product processes makes them feel valued and provides valuable feedback. Successful people enjoy that relationship. They also enjoy their time away from their goals and work to spend time with their loved ones. 7. Stop Comparing Yourself To Everyone Else Successful people understand that the only person they can compete with today is the person they were yesterday. They are too focused on themselves and their goals to worry about anyone else. They don’t want to compare themselves to others because it’s counterproductive. However, they do analyze where they have weak points and are able to genuinely admire people who have mastered things they have not. There is no use to comparing yourself to someone else. It’s counterproductive and harmful to your self-esteem. It also helps to harbor negative self-dialogue. Example: Taylor Swift is one of the most successful recording artists of our time, but before that, she was a struggling musician in Nashville playing at small venues and coffee shops. She would turn in demos to various studios, covering a variety of songs. It was only when she started playing and writing her own music that she got noticed and became the celebrity she is today. She faced a lot of adversity as well. There were people who doubted her skills and told her she couldn’t sing. Her confidence and faith in herself overcame that. 8. Stop Living In The Past Successful people learn from their failures, but they do not live in the past. They take the skills and lessons they acquired from their failures and apply them to the present and future. Don’t live in your own personal past. Don’t define yourself by who you were. Define yourself by who you are today and by who you’re working toward becoming. Example: Would we even remember Thomas Edison if he gave up on his ideas before becoming successful? Can you imagine simply focusing on what happened yesterday? So what if yesterday was a failure? Try again! Failure teaches us about what doesn’t work, and helps us get closer to a process that does work. Choose your attitude and control it. Move forward. Remember, failure is feedback. 9. Stop Tolerating Dishonest People Successful people appreciate other people for their unique traits and gifts. They do not attempt to harm, belittle, or in any way demean others for their own successes or ideas. They are open to relationships with others, but know when to cut the cord, so to speak. People can be too forgiving when it comes to being wronged, and it’s important to know one’s limits. Successful people do not tolerate negative and dishonest people, because they are too busy loving honest, sincere people. Example: Everyone. We have all had frenemies. We have all invested in people who did not return our investment in them. Successful people know how to weed these dishonest people out. No one wants unneeded negativity around themselves or around the people they love. Read this article for tips on how to deal with dishonest people. 27 Likes 4 Shares |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by channelz: 10:49pm On Feb 13, 2015 |
Educative. I would have said you should have taken your time to write this properly but I guess I should stop expecting perfection 6 Likes |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by SuperSuave(m): 11:14pm On Feb 13, 2015 |
Hmm |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by ruudnisterooy1(m): 11:43pm On Feb 13, 2015 |
Nairaland is not a lost cause afterall. This is a very nice piece. Not ONLY for people who want to be successful. Those threading on the path of self-discovery could also glean from this, and apply a thing or two in their quest. Lately I have been wallowing and sinking in despair, because the harder I try to reach my goals, the harder (I feel) some unseen forces are contending against me. But I have taken the time to sit back, relax and take a look at where I have gone wrong. From that I can add some points to your's OP. 1. Successful people don't waste their time complaining on things they can't control. They'd rather focus on the things they can control in their lives, and MOST times, the only thing a man needs is to change his attitude. 2. Successful people don't mind taking calculated Risks: taking reckless or foolish risk is out of the question for them. But they always SPEND TIME to place major decisions on a scale; weighing the pros and cons before making their moves. 3. Successful people don't dwell on the past. 4. Successful people aren't afraid of change. 5. Successful people LEARN from their mistakes... And NEVER repeat their mistakes over and over again. 6. Successful people realize that there indeed, is no short cut to becoming successful. The road to success is dark and steep... And a successful man is the one who can work thru this steep and dark path successfully. The man who never gives up after the first try... And the man who picks himself up, every single time he falls. P.S: OP, please try to space your work, for clarity sake. 7 Likes |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by holatin(m): 12:29am On Feb 14, 2015 |
Let me read b4 commenting |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by iykepromotions: 1:05am On Feb 14, 2015 |
hey..... talk true, click like if you didn't read everything finish! talk true oo 3 Likes |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by viccipedia: 1:36am On Feb 14, 2015 |
All on point except for number 1, almost all the great success this world has produced have all been perfectionists. However, you have spoken like a typical Nigerian. We're wallowing in the pathetic fallacy that things ought to be imperfect which is why we always settle for less. If you ask me, you need to do away with number 1, successful people always aim for the highest point of perfection, *check history* 2 Likes |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by paulolee(m): 4:37am On Feb 14, 2015 |
nice piece nt next tym try to space ur Epistle n underline or bold some key words or letters to create more perfect n understandable script beinq successful is anoda tin entirely apart from many tinz from ur list... for some its destiny, for others its determination, for some is hunqer, for others its luck, for some its b,coz dea ar bound to b successful coz dea ar born into wealth, for others its easy n tru shabby n despirate means means( bk door n dirty means) afterall d danqote's n richer n biqqa peps controlling billions n owners of various oil wells don't av to qo tru ur list or drop some anytinq from ur list b4 dea qot to d top |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by Emyemyberry(m): 5:39am On Feb 14, 2015 |
Number 9 Do not have a boyfriend or girlfriend 1 Like |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by absoluteSuccess: 5:54am On Feb 14, 2015 |
10. Stop being scared about being successful: Poverty is an equator to the average man, but if you have legit info on how to succeed, don't let fear stop you. It may appear to you that your fear is genuine, lest you lose something. But what about what you lose to ignore-ance (ignorance) via fear? Check my signature. |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by somtea(m): 5:55am On Feb 14, 2015 |
remember the lord thy God in all thy ways 3 Likes |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by Nobody: 6:47am On Feb 14, 2015 |
somtea: |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by Nobody: 7:09am On Feb 14, 2015 |
Wise words to live by!! Splendid [color=#006600][/color] |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by ChiSun27(m): 7:11am On Feb 14, 2015 |
Well registered |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by EazyJ(f): 7:13am On Feb 14, 2015 |
Bookmarked! |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by surdik(m): 8:22am On Feb 14, 2015 |
Very Educative post! Thanks for sharing! |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by alotofgrace(m): 8:30am On Feb 14, 2015 |
well I kinda stand aside the "don't isolate ursef part" it's called "focus" or "away from distractions" |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by RomanceLander(f): 8:35am On Feb 14, 2015 |
Emyemyberry: Except on valentine's days |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by stanza(m): 9:30am On Feb 14, 2015 |
If Nigeria Should Break!!! http://infocong..com/2015/02/if-nigeria-should-break.html |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by Genea(f): 10:27am On Feb 14, 2015 |
I nid to start putting all dese into practice |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by bodeoni: 10:29am On Feb 14, 2015 |
channelz: ROTFL |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by INCREDIBLEGUY: 10:47am On Feb 14, 2015 |
WOW NAIRALANDERS AM SO BLESSED BY ALL THESE POST..............THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGHT |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by mrsage(m): 11:40am On Feb 14, 2015 |
Stop placing all yoour eggs in one basket . And stop working round the clock. Take time out to rest and reflect.. |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by DuchessLily(f): 11:59am On Feb 14, 2015 |
Hmm....nice! Long, but very Nice read. Weldone op |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by Nobody: 12:01pm On Feb 14, 2015 |
Thanks op, I'm motivated. More grease to your elbow! |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by Emyemyberry(m): 12:07pm On Feb 14, 2015 |
RomanceLander:why? |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by doctorborn: 12:14pm On Feb 14, 2015 |
COOL |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by Nobody: 12:43pm On Feb 14, 2015 |
Wow! Really nice piece. Stuffs like this is what we should have gracing the front page, as NL is a highly respected forum. I think I should visit this section more often. Front page please. cc: Lalasticlacla, Mynd44, Seun, Ishilove, Obinoscopy. |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by Ameerasexy(f): 1:18pm On Feb 14, 2015 |
Ok. This thread is specifically for me |
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by CDon(m): 1:58pm On Feb 14, 2015 |
1 million likes 4 d OP This kinda stuff shld be on frontpage
|
Re: 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful by Nobody: 2:34pm On Feb 14, 2015 |
There are no particular keys to success, everything listed are nothing but wild guesses. |
Not Seen Your Utme Result. Come In Here!! / Boy Commits Suicide After Failing Jamb PICS / University Professor Claims He Discovered Population Of Fairies And Shows His Pr
(Go Up)
Sections: politics (1) business autos (1) jobs (1) career education (1) romance computers phones travel sports fashion health religion celebs tv-movies music-radio literature webmasters programming techmarket Links: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2024 Oluwaseun Osewa. All rights reserved. See How To Advertise. 50 |