Jelena Dincic
The truth is that success almost never happens overnight.
If you wanna be ahead of everyone else in the future, you need to start making some changes right now! That means getting rid of negative behaviors and habits that are holding you back.
You’re bound to face various challenges, setbacks, and even moments of self-doubt along your journey, which is why you need to be dedicated, perseverant, and patient if you want to make it.
Let’s not waste any time and jump right in.
Here are 10 things you should stop doing now to be ahead of everyone in 10 years:
1) Thinking that things will simply fall into place
Listen up, there’s no way you’ll be able to magically get ahead of everyone else in 10 years if you don’t even know where you’re going.
Stop thinking that things will work out by themselves without you lifting a finger. Here’s what you can do:
- Start by setting some goals. Ask yourself where you’d like to be in 10 years (both in terms of your work and your private life).
- Make a plan. What needs to happen in order for you to get from where you are now to where you want to be?
- Work hard to reach your goals. You need to be patient and keep at it.
2) Short-term thinking
A common mistake a lot of people make is getting caught up in short-term thinking.
So what do I mean by that?
I mean that they’re looking for instant gratification.
Their short-term thinking means they’ll make impulsive-decisions because they want to see quick results and they’ll completely ignore the big picture.
And guess what?
By focusing on quick wins, you could end up sacrificing your long-term goals, missing out on lasting relationships, as well as skipping the opportunity to learn and grow.
My advice?
If you want to be ahead of everyone else in 10 years, then you have to play the long game and shift your thinking from short-term to long-term.
This will help you make strategic decisions and think about the big picture and long-term success.
3) Neglecting your well-being
Time and time again I’ve seen people work super hard toward their goal only to experience burnout halfway there.
That’s no way to succeed, now is it?
It’s a well-known fact that your physical and mental well-being directly impact your productivity and success which is why you need to learn to take care of yourself.
So, here’s what you need to do:
- Get enough sleep (at least 8 hours)
- Make sure you stay hydrated
- Eat a balanced diet with lots of veggies and unprocessed foods. Avoid sugar!
- Exercise – get moving, whether it be jogging, hiking, or cycling, you wanna make sure you do some cardio a few times a week.
- Don’t forget to spend time with your loved ones
It’s only by taking care of yourself that you’ll have the strength and will to make it to the finish line.
4) Procrastination
Look, I’m not here to judge you – I’m as guilty of procrastination as you are.
That being said, if you want to be ahead of everyone else in 10 years, then you have to make some changes and try to avoid procrastination as much as possible.
But how?
It’s not going to be easy. After all, the reason we procrastinate is because we have so much to do that we don’t know where to start, or because we’re avoiding things that are challenging or scary.
Here are some tips to get you started:
- When you get a task, tackle it immediately, don’t leave it for later.
- Don’t despair when you see the long list of things you need to do. Just check each item off one by one, you’ll get there eventually.
- If there’s something you dread doing (like making a phone-call), just do it now! Trust me, it’s like pulling off a band-aid and you’ll feel a huge relief afterward.
5) Fear of failure
Don’t be afraid to fail!
I know that a lot of people look at failure like it’s the end of the world, especially if they’ve been brought up thinking they need to have straight As and do everything perfectly to get their parents’ love and approval.
But here’s the thing – failure is actually part of the process.
We all fail on our way to success. Even some of the greatest minds like Einstein failed.
So the next time you fail at something, instead of giving up, look at it as a learning opportunity.
Analyze the situation to see where you went wrong and what you could do differently in order to succeed in the future.
Got it?
6) Resistance to change
Change can be scary, I know.
That’s because it’s full of unknowns and potential “threats”. It’s only normal for people to gravitate toward the safety and comfort of the familiar.
But if you think about it, change is inevitable – it doesn’t matter how we feel about it.
And it doesn’t have to be bad. In fact, it can be great.
Just think, if nothing ever changed we’d have no electricity, no internet, no phones, no airplanes…
I can’t even imagine how I’d get by if I didn’t have Google!
If you want to be ahead of everyone else in 10 years, there’s no way to do it without being open to change.
Whether it be at work or in your personal life, you need to embrace change and seek out new opportunities.
7) Thinking you know it all
Learning is a lifelong process.
That means that no matter how knowledgeable you are, there’s always something new to be learned.
If you want to advance and be ahead of everyone else in 10 years, then you need to stop saying no to continuous learning – especially at the workplace!
The knowledge and skills required in the job market are constantly evolving.
I mean, have you seen what AI can do?
Yesterday I was shown some beautiful black and white photos, very artsy, and guess what?
They weren’t real! They were made up by AI! And don’t get me started on AI writing books and movie scripts.
That’s why if you want to get ahead, it’s vital to stay up to date with new technologies and trends, and to commit to continuous learning.
Otherwise, there’s a pretty big chance that you’ll get left behind.
8) Multitasking
I know that it seems like if you want to succeed, you need to do as much as possible in as little time as possible, which often includes taking on multiple projects at a time.
However, it turns out that the opposite is true and that instead of increasing productivity, multitasking actually leads to reduced efficiency and lower-quality results.
Crazy, I know!
So forget about doing 100 things at once and focus on doing one thing at a time, giving it your total attention.
Figure out what your priorities are and dedicate yourself fully to everything you do.
Trust me, this approach will produce the best results and set you apart from everyone else.
9) Overspending
Remember how I said you need to start thinking in the long-term?
Well, that includes financial security.
It’s all very well to go out and to treat yourself to nice things, but it’s also important to start saving.
You want to build yourself a financial cushion that will provide stability if something unforeseen should happen – such as losing your job or facing another financial crisis.
Plus, if you start saving now, in 10 years time when everyone else is still paying rent, you could have your own place.
Or, you could find yourself in the position to start your own business or take a trip around the world.
In short, stop spending so much money and open a savings account.
10) Overusing social media
Read a book, go for a walk, meditate… don’t become a slave to social media.
I’m serious.
Sure, social media can be a great tool for networking and gathering information about goings-on in the world, but excessive use can be counterproductive – harmful actually.
You need to aim to balance your online presence with real-world interactions.
When’s the last time you went out for a drink with your friends?
What about the theatre or cinema? Can you remember the last time you went?
Remind yourself to take a break from social media from time to time and focus your attention on meaningful activities.
