5 Things to Give Up If You Want to Be Successful

“The speed of your success is limited only by your dedication and what you’re willing to sacrifice.” – Nathan W. Morris

If you want to be successful, you have to be willing to sacrifice the little things that bring short-term pleasure in order to achieve the BIG THINGS that require long term vision and commitment. You cannot expect a multi-million dollar payday with a minimum wage mindset. You have to have the hunger to learn your craft and the grit to overcome all obstacles.

Here are the five things you must give up to be successful.

1. Give Up the Short-term Mindset

People who live for the short-term work for their next meal, but those who plan for the long-term live for their last. We should plan our career, finances, and relationships thinking about the long-term.

To cultivate a long-term mindset, set mini goals that are aligned with your long-term goals. Build daily habits because they will make the biggest difference in the long-term if you want to be successful.

If you think about the short-term, you would buy a car on debt as soon as you got your first job, buy expensive things, travel a lot and “enjoy” your money. But if you were smart, you would save money for the future, have a health-insurance in check, find ways to eliminate taxes, and build your wealth. You would invest some money in yourself, because you are your greatest asset. The more you grow in life, the more prosperous life will become for you.

2. Give Up On Playing Small

We need to have big goals in order to be successful in life. As Michael Phelps said once, “I think goals should never be easy, they should force you to work, even if they are uncomfortable at the time.”

To start playing big, see what’s holding you back. And then take action to break this limitation. Your problem may be self-sabotage, fear of rejection or failure, a desire to please everyone around you. Find your limitation and break right through it.

3. Give Up Excuses

Successful people focus on the positives and always come up with reasons why they can. Average people focus on the negatives and have plenty of reasons why they can’t.

Look at the areas of your life where you’ve compromised for less. What made you stop fighting for your goal? Lack of education, resources, money, contacts, or the mindset – none of the excuses is valid.

If you want to be successful, drop all the excuses and focus on the reasons why you can.

4. Give Up Your Need to Be Liked

We often do things to be accepted by others. For example, we dress a certain way, look a certain way, speak a certain way, and even choose to create our life a certain way so that others will approve of us.

We have to speak and live our own truth regardless of whether others approve of it or not. So if you want to run a business and your family doesn’t approve of it, you have to trust your inner truth and do it regardless.

For example, when Elon Musk was starting SpaceX, his close friend showed him a video of rockets blowing up because he didn’t want Musk to waste all of his money. But Musk listened to the voice inside and chased his dream regardless. And today, SpaceX has become a $21 billion company and has received billions of dollars of funding from the American government.
There is no greater burden in life than living a life you don’t want, just so you can fit in. Be Yourself!

5. Give Up Toxic People

If you want to be successful in life, you need to give up the extra weight. Stop hanging out with pessimists and lazy people because their low energy will seep into your life. Surround yourself with only those who raise your level of living. You need to live with vibrant, focused, extremely active people who live with purpose and work hard for their dreams.

The right way to meet successful people is to be a diligent seeker. Find someone who can introduce you to the right person. Another great way to meet influential people is to request an interview and be really sincere in your request. Perhaps the most powerful way is to provide some value to the successful person you want to meet. This value could be a business solution, or a great business idea – anything relevant to them. You can also search for any mentorship programs that they have or internships they are offering.