In life most people aspire for greatness, success, wealth and happiness. No matter how much we try, there are always factors that will try limit us or stop us from reaching our goals. Some of them are things we can’t control, like the families we were born into, country of birth, the environment we grew up, and so on. There are also factors that are either self-induced or within our control. For us to excel, we must learn to focus on things we can control and learn to make the best of the other things around us.

1. Leaving Your Life to Chance: 

If there one thing you need to do away with immediately, it is leaving your life to luck, whatever happens or comes your way. Determine to channel your life in the direction you want it to go – be deliberate about creating the future you want for yourself, otherwise you will get knocked down by life’s challenges. Set big, ambitious goals.

2. Having a Scarcity Mentality:

Some people think that there is not enough for everybody. They live with a “littleness mentality”. They believe that money, opportunities, success, jobs, and whatever good things of life they desire are scarce and limited. Don’t let that be you. Move away from the crowd, chose to believe in abundance, expect it, crave it and you will ultimately attract it to yourself.

3. Living Solely from Salary to Salary 

Several years ago when I started my career in the banking industry, my then CEO told us during a staff forum “You can never be rich working for somebody. You might be comfortable, but you cannot be wealthy” I struggled a long time to really understand what he meant. You see, our paycheck does just enough to help us pay our bills, with the exception of very few people who are overly or well paid. Most people have their monies spent even before the salary arrives. So what do you do to change all that? Start something today.  What can you sell? Goods, services, your time or talent? Look within your environment, what problems do you see? What can you do to solve them? No matter how little, start something today. In my future blogs, I will give you some ideas on what you can do. Always remember: “profits are better than wages. Wages can make you a living, but profits will make you a fortune” – Jim Rohn

4. Spending More Than You Earn

Develop a discipline of saving first, before spending. Having had money issues (a lot of us have) in my life,  this is one subject I spent a lot of time studying about (I still do). One of the books I am currently reading is on this subject. If you are serious about creating several income streams, it’s a must-read. I got a copy on Amazon. If you are a Prime Member on Amazon, you can buy one online with free shipping. If Amazon is not present in your home country and you have a friend or relative in a location where they do, you can use your Amazon Prime account, buy and have them ship to their address for free. You can also check your local bookstore for a copy. Watch out for a series on this topic soon. Never spend more than you earn. I know you will argue that is impossible, but with a little discipline and financial education, you can. I live in Nigeria and I have seen firsthand, low-income earners build houses from their meager income, while supposedly well-paid workers can’t boast of any tangible asset in their name.

5. Being Your Own Worst Enemy

Stop looking down on yourself. Don’t doubt your ability to succeed. Believe you have what it takes to excel. Change the way you see yourself. Don’t say you “can’t afford” a thing, don’t give money power over you. Find a legitimate way to do what you need to do to succeed. Where there is a will, there is always a way. Look for it. Ask, you will receive. Seek you will find. Knock, the door will open to you. Just be persistent and wait. Your time and opportunity will come. Never give you. You only time you fail is when you give up. Jesus Christ fell thrice on the way to Calvary, but each time He rose again. When you persist, you will succeed. Remember that tough times don’t last, but tough people do. Do yourself a favour by believing that you can make it, even if others don’t.

6. Procrastinating 

Face it, your income or salary is hardly ever enough to take care of your bills. How about starting something little by the side, that can incrementally grow over time and potentially become your major income source. Have you been nursing an idea of having a side hustle, don’t procrastinate further. Start today.

7. Keeping The Wrong Company

What kind of people do you surround yourself with? Don’t be afraid to break away from a relationship that isn’t helping you become a better person, doesn’t challenge or motivate you to aspire for greatness. Check your 5 closest friends or people you spend the most time with: I bet you are just as much as anyone of them. Dare to choose differently today.

8. Comparing Yourself to Others

Stop competing with people. Don’t let anyone be your standard of measuring whether you are a success or failure. The only person you should compete with is yourself. Strive to better than you were yesterday, last week, last month and last month. Make incremental daily personal development.

Resources

The Success Factor: Master the Secret of a Winning Mindset
Cisco Learning Labs
14-Day Goal Setting Challenge (Free Download)
Enhancing Success