When you’re serious about achieving big goals — whether launching a business, writing a book, transforming your health or building financial freedom — you’ll quickly realize something: you can’t do it all. Success requires focus, clarity and sacrifice.
Before you can start to plan your success goals, there are many things that you need to understand before you can be sure that the goals you set are really the ones you want.
One of those things is to determine if there are any Limiting Beliefs that can stop you from actually achieving those goals.
I have a self-study Limiting Belief Program that you can go through to determine what your Limiting Beliefs are and how you can remove them.
You can read more and register for the program at Limiting Beliefs Program on my Confidence and Life Coaching website.
Start your journey on your path to success by identifying and removing your Limiting Beliefs so that you make the journey a lot easier.
You can download a free PDF containing five articles on Limiting Beliefs and how to overcome them and achieve things in your career and personal life.
The PDF can be downloaded here (and you don’t have to register or provide an email address) Limiting Beliefs Download
Download the file and go over the other material that you can find on the Confidence and Life Coaching website.
If you are ready to move even further into the process of Identifying and removing and replacing your Limiting Beliefs, you should consider my short Limiting Belief’s Coaching Program
Big goals don’t just demand more action. They demand that you cut out distractions, habits and mindsets that waste your energy and derail your momentum. Mediocre results often come from clinging to the wrong things — time-sinks, approval-seeking, comfort zones or mindless distractions.
Here’s a breakdown of 15 things you simply don’t have time for if you’re committed to meaningful progress.
1. Worrying About What You Can’t Control
Worrying about the economy, the weather or someone else’s opinion won’t move your goals forward. It just burns mental energy and keeps you stuck in inaction. If you can’t control it, let it go. Focus on what’s in your hands — your effort, your attitude, your next move.
2. Obsessing Over Others’ Opinions
People aren’t thinking about you as much as you think they are. If you’re constantly worried about being judged, you’ll never take bold action. When you pursue big goals, you have to tune out the noise. You don’t need approval — you need results.
3. Wasting Time in General
Track your day. How much of it went to things that actually matter? Most people lose hours to low-priority tasks. Big goals demand strategic use of time. If it doesn’t move you forward, it’s probably a waste.
4. Mindless Internet Surfing
That quick scroll turns into 45 minutes. You don’t even remember what you were looking for. Online rabbit holes are productivity killers. Be intentional about your screen time — set limits, use blockers or schedule “scroll time” so it doesn’t hijack your day.
5. Watching TV
TV is passive entertainment. It gives you nothing back. Highly driven people either eliminate it completely or limit it to specific, intentional time slots. Swap TV time for a power habit: reading, planning, exercising or building your skills.
6. Smartphone Addiction
Phones are tools, not companions. Constant notifications, group chats and social media can fracture your focus and steal hours. Turn off non-essential alerts. Leave your phone in another room. Most things can wait.
7. Getting Caught Up in the World’s Noise
You don’t need to win arguments online. You don’t need to be up to date on every controversy. Most of it won’t affect your life or your goals. Put your energy where it matters: your personal growth, your work, your relationships.
8. Choosing What’s Easy Over What’s Effective
Comfort won’t get you there. Doing what’s easy feels good now but leads to frustration later. Choose what works, not what’s convenient. Whether it’s making tough calls or practising daily discipline, effectiveness wins over ease.
9. Fear of Failure
Failure is part of the process. Expect it. Plan for it. Embrace it. What matters is what you do after the failure — learn, adjust, keep going. Avoiding failure usually means avoiding progress.
10. Advice from People You Wouldn’t Trade Places With
Don’t take financial advice from someone in debt. Don’t take life advice from someone unhappy. If you wouldn’t trade places with them, why trust their opinion? Be selective. Surround yourself with people who are ahead of you and learning with you.
11. Trying to Please Everyone
You can be the kindest, smartest, most well-intentioned person — and someone will still have a problem with you. That’s life. Stop shaping your actions to keep everyone happy. Instead, do what aligns with your values and your goals.
12. Procrastination
Waiting doesn’t make tasks easier. It just increases pressure. Procrastination usually signals fear — of failure, of discomfort or of the unknown. Address the root cause and start before you feel ready. Momentum builds clarity.
13. Letting Emotions Override Logic
Making decisions based on frustration, fear or guilt often leads to regret. Big goals require rational thinking. Use your data. Use your plan. Pause when emotions spike. Make decisions from a place of clarity, not chaos.
14. Repeating the Same Mistakes
Mistakes are fine — repeating them isn’t. If you keep doing what doesn’t work, you’re wasting time. Reflect after every failure. What didn’t work? Why? What’s a smarter way forward? Learn, pivot and move.
15. Prioritizing Pleasure Over Progress
Chasing comfort and entertainment might feel good now, but it rarely leads anywhere worth going. A Netflix binge or sugar high can’t replace the satisfaction of real growth. When you focus on progress over instant pleasure, you build something that lasts.
What High Achievers Do Differently
It’s not just that successful people work harder. They work smarter. They protect their time. They design their lives around what matters. And most importantly, they cut ruthlessly — not just habits, but mindsets that don’t serve them.
That might mean:
- Saying “no” without guilt
- Being okay with disappointing some people
- Choosing discipline when comfort calls
- Thinking long-term instead of short-term dopamine hits
If you want to do something extraordinary, you can’t live like everyone else. You have to design your environment, schedule and mindset for your vision.
You Can’t Keep It All
Big goals require trade-offs. You can’t cling to every convenience, distraction or limiting belief and still expect massive growth. It’s not just about what you do — it’s also about what you stop doing.
The more you strip away what doesn’t matter, the more power you have to focus on what does.
Every yes to something small is a no to something bigger. Choose wisely.
To talk about any aspect of success or working with a Life Coach to help you to achieve success, you can book a 30-minute call by clicking on the blue button below.
Don’t try to do all of this by yourself, ask and receive the guidance that can get you moving towards your own success.
Working together can help you overcome personal and professional barriers, ensuring you reach your highest potential.
Nothing happens until action is taken.
To your success.
Michael
P.S if you want to find out more about my programs just check out the site Confidence and Life Coaching
P.P.S. If you enjoy reading these articles on my blog, I have more books that have more of this type of information that you can find out more about at Books to Read. You can buy these ebooks at many on-line book stores. The links to the bookstores are at the link above.
P.P.P.S. You can download a free PDF containing five articles on Limiting Beliefs and how to overcome them and achieve things in your career and personal life.
The PDF can be downloaded here (and you don’t have to register or provide an email address) Limiting Beliefs Download
Download the file and go over the other material that you can find on the Confidence and Life Coaching website.
P.P.P.P.S. If you are ready to move even further into the process of Identifying and removing and replacing your Limiting Beliefs, you should consider my short Limiting Belief’s Coaching Program
P.P.P.P.P.S. I have posted a series of articles on the “Fear of Success” at Confidence and Life Coaching. You can also request a free PDF of all 4-articles by sending me an email message at michael@coachmichaelw.com
Photo by Ashwini Chaudhary(Monty) on Unsplash
