Some Great, Effective, Simple Advice

The bad habits you should give up if you want to be successful

4. Give up your excuses

Successful people know that they alone are ultimately responsible for their actions in life, no matter their starting point, weaknesses, or past failures.

Realizing that you are responsible for what happens next is both frightening and exciting. But it’s also the best way that you can reach success. Excuses limit and prevent us from growing personally and professionally. Own your life; no one else is going to do it for you.

5. Give up the fixed mindset

In a fixed mindset, people believe that their intelligence and talents are fixed traits. Thus, so this line of logic goes, talent alone creates success — without effort.

This is wrong. And successful people know this is wrong. Instead of assuming talent will automatically create opportunities, successful people invest an immense amount of time developing a growth mindset, acquiring new knowledge, and learning new skills.

Remember, who you are today is not who you have to be tomorrow.

8. Give up multi-tasking

Successful people know this. That’s why they choose one thing and then beat it into submission. Whether it’s a business idea, a conversation, or a workout, focusing all your efforts on a single task will pay dividends.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t start and complete multiple tasks overall. But being fully present and committed to one task at a time is indispensable.

12. Give up your need to be liked

Think of yourself as a market niche. There will be plenty of people who appreciate that niche, and there will be individuals who don’t. No matter what you do, you won’t be able to make an entire market like you, so stop trying to market yourself for mass appeal.

Instead, continue improving and contributing every day, and know that a growing number of doubters probably means that you are doing important things.

13. Give up your dependency on social media and television

Impulsive web browsing and television watching is a modern societal disease. These two should never be an escape from your life or your goals.

Unless your goals depend on either, you should minimize (or even eliminate) your dependency on them. Direct that time towards things that can actually enrich your life instead.

Complete list (QZ.com)