September 6, 2023

 

Are you planning for success?

Success isn’t a matter of luck; it’s often the result of hard work, perseverance, and a well-executed plan. However, even the best plans can falter if there are underlying issues holding you back.

Identifying these barriers and finding ways to overcome them is crucial for personal and professional growth. In our work with over 6,000 businesses, we’ve identified three of the most common beliefs that hold people back and keep them from achieving the life and business they desire.

 

1. Fear of Failure

The fear of failure can be paralyzing. Whether it’s hesitance to take a risk, indecisiveness, or avoiding new opportunities altogether, this fear can inhibit your ability to move forward. Your comfort zone becomes a self-imposed prison, restricting you from achieving your fullest potential.

 

2. Procrastination

The “I’ll do it tomorrow” mindset can be incredibly damaging. Procrastination not only affects your productivity but also adds unnecessary stress. Over time, opportunities are missed, and the path to success becomes clouded with regrets about what might have been. Another way that procrastination shows up is in what we call “this before that.” This means that you put off taking one action until something else is done first. This can be especially daunting if the first thing doesn’t get done either.

 

3. Self-Doubt

One of the most significant barriers to success is a lack of self-confidence. If you can’t visualize yourself succeeding, it becomes much harder to achieve your goals. The lack of belief becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy; you don’t take the actions necessary for success because deep down, you don’t think you can succeed.

 

Three Strategies to Overcome These Barriers

1. Embrace Failure as a Teacher

Fear of failure can be debilitating, but failure itself can be a great teacher. Start seeing failure as an opportunity to learn, improve, and grow. Each failure is a step towards success, provided you take the lessons it offers. Once you remove the fear surrounding failure, you free yourself to pursue your goals more aggressively. Just remember – failure is fatal.

 

2. Use Time Blocks for Tasks

When it comes to overcoming procrastination, effective time management can be a game-changer. One effective approach is time-blocking, where you allocate specific blocks of time to different tasks or activities throughout the day. This will help you manage your time better, prioritize essential tasks, and gradually build a habit of productivity. If you are stuck in a “this before that” cycle, set a firm deadline and make time to get that first thing done, so other things can follow.

 

3. Build a Positive Support System

Sometimes the lack of self-belief stems from a toxic or unsupportive environment. Surrounding yourself with positive influences can significantly improve your outlook. Seek people who encourage you, believe in you, and inspire you to do better. This positive reinforcement can gradually help you build your own confidence and self-belief.

 

Success is rarely a solo endeavor; it often involves a community and a network that believes in your vision and potential.

It’s not easy being a business owner. There are many stumbling blocks and barriers that are out of our control. That’s why it’s so important to remove the self-imposed barriers that we’ve constructed as limiting beliefs. Deconstructing and overcoming these mental constructs is entirely in our control. The barriers to success are mental constructs that can be deconstructed and overcome.

So, ask yourself today: What’s holding me back? Once you have your answer, tackle it head-on. Use these strategies as a starting point and remember that the road to success is filled with obstacles—but these are not barriers; they are stepping stones. Use them to build the path to your future.

Blessings,

Chris Ann Williams, CEO