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Success Advice

10 Things Holding You Back And How to Take Control of Them

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It’s no secret that we all have far more potential than we could ever imagine. Well, it may be a secret for some. Why is it then, that so many people never get where they want to go in life? Why do so many lack simply being able to visualize what they want their life to look like? It’s because they’ve been held down. We all have things holding us back to some degree and often we’re completely unaware of many of these things. The great thing about being human is that we have the ability to control our circumstances and create change, which is exactly how to break free of the shackles holding you back.

Here are 10 things that can hold you back and how to take back control from them:

1. Dependence

What is a tell-tale sign of someone who is not in control of their life? Dependence. Whether that be dependence on family, friends, or even the government, it is you and only you who is in control of your life. The sooner you realise this, the sooner you reclaim your independence and take back control.

2. Indecisiveness

How many times have you gone to a restaurant, only to be plagued by having to decide on ordering one of the one hundred items on the menu? If you’re like most, chances are you’ll take 15 minutes before making up your mind. Even then, you might still question your decision! 

The most successful people in the world make decisions fast. Develop your decision making muscles by being conscious every time you have to make one – think fast and trust your gut.

“The way to develop decisiveness is to start right where you are, with the very next question you face.” – Napoleon Hill

3. Friends & Family

Oftentimes it’s the thing we least suspect that’s holding us back the most. One of the biggest factors of people not succeeding is friends and family. Whether it be their own limiting beliefs, negativity or lack of belief in you, it is critical to distance yourself from anyone or anything that will bring you down. Sometimes you have to be ruthless about this, because you’d rather cut someone out of your life, than be stuck in the hamster wheel forever with them.

4. Lack of Discipline

Will Smith notably stated that “self-discipline is at the centre of any kind of material success in the world” – which I 100% believe to be true. Are you waking up on time? Are you exercising? Are you eating the right foods and going to bed on time? If the answer to any of them is no, then you’re holding yourself back. Fortunately, discipline is transferrable and by taking more control of discipline in one area of your life, you will be able to bring it across to others.

5. Your Phone

On average, people check their phones every 12 minutes, which is quite disturbing when you really think about it. Our phones are perhaps the greatest hindrance of them all, as we have them on us at almost all times.

The fastest and easiest way to take control of your phone usage is to set your intentions. Remind yourself to only use your phone for important tasks, and to turn it off when you don’t need it. The less time you waste on your phone, the more success you’ll be able to achieve.

6. Social Conditioning

Now this one isn’t really our fault – we are all conditioned by society and its expectations from a young age. As our journey of growth continues however, it is necessary to break free from the chains holding us down. It’s far too easy to fall back into these patterns of self-doubt and lack of self-worth that are imposed upon us, which is why it is vital to practice discipline in this area daily. Whether it be through affirmations, visualisation, or meditation, we must only feed our minds with information that will help us grow.  

7. Vices

If you’re a human being, then there’s a strong chance you have some kind of vice. Whether it be alcohol, binge watching TV, pornography or excessive eating. These are the things we know are bad, but they somehow continue to draw us in. We become addicted to the dopamine rush the vices provide us, except we’re usually left feeling down and depleted. 

I’m a big believer in removing anything in my environment that will hold me back. Whether that be turning the TV off at the power, blocking certain websites or not keeping bad foods in the house. Our willpower is limited, which is why we need to make it as easy as possible to steer clear of our vices.

8. Fear

Some of the biggest fears that most people experience fall into these three categories; fear of failure, fear of rejection and fear of embarrassment. I like to refer to fear as ‘False Evidence Appearing Real’, to which I analyse and make the choice to no longer acknowledge it as real. A great way to break out of certain fears is to remind yourself that one day, you will die – and all those decisions and things you did, or didn’t do, will no longer matter.

“You’ll always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky 

9. Lack of Awareness

Self-awareness is one of the biggest keys to happiness, purpose, and fulfillment. From my own personal experiences, I realised I lacked awareness for a long time – who I was, what I wanted to do, and what was possible for me. It wasn’t until I began to implement deep work on myself that I began to develop my self-awareness. This truly helped me regain control of my life and see exactly who I was along with who I wanted to be. 

See yourself from the outside, looking in. Take a step back and reflect upon your actions, who you are, and what you want to be. 

10. Perspective

Perception is reality, for some at least. Everything we experience in our own lives comes down to our perception of it. What often separates those who succeed from those who fail, is their perception. Some perceive failures as the be-all-end-all, while others see it as an opportunity to learn and know what to do next time. 

Viktor Frankl, a well-known survivor of the holocaust is someone who we can learn from. Frankl was able to control his perception of everything that was happening, allowing him to remain in as positive a frame of mind as you possibly could in the circumstances he faced.

Your mind is the most powerful thing on earth – and what life boils down to is just that. If you can control your mind, you control your circumstances. There is real power behind positive thinking. Refer back to these 10 tips if you are ever doubting yourself or simply aren’t sure what’s currently holding you back.

What’s currently holding you back in your life? Is there anyway we can be of service to you? Let us know below!

Lewis Schenk is an Australian-based Entrepreneur, Writer, and PR Consultant. His work has been recognized by Buzzfeed, International Business Times, and Thrive Global. Lewis is passionate about sharing empowering stories from people around the world, particularly those in entrepreneurship & business. He has been privileged to work with over 150 business owners and entrepreneurs in 2020 alone, helping them grow their brands and online presence.

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Success Advice

Microlearning: The Journey from Brief Knowledge to Enormous Learning Results

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Image Credit: Addicted2success

In contemporary society, traditional learning formats are being complemented by microlearning. Many people struggle to maintain their attention during long lectures, courses, or webinars. As a result, many individuals are moving towards microlearning formats. This new, modern approach is based on short, concise chunks of knowledge. These chunks can be absorbed in just a few minutes and effectively applied in practice.

This new learning model is applicable in all areas, from corporate training to self-improvement. The main goals of microlearning are quick, relevant learning at a convenient time.

The Concept of Microlearning

Microlearning is a recent approach that consists of breaking material into small and self-contained units of knowledge (modules). Each unit is no longer than 10 minutes, solves a specific problem, or teaches a single skill.

Examples include:

  • Short video instructions
  • Flashcards with quizzes or tests
  • Mini-guides in chat format
  • Interactive simulators
  • An AI assistant that explains a single concept

In many cases, students and learners do not need to read everything or reread a whole book or document, but rather can use a book summarizer, or an AI tool to extract important information in that chapter, and receive everything they need to know within 5 minutes.

Microlearning is not meant to replace education. Its primary goal is to facilitate integrating education into our everyday lives.

Why Microlearning Is Popular

This format’s popularity is growing rapidly. New micro learning apps are appearing, AI assistants and tools for quickly summarizing large volumes of information are being developed, and so on.

This rapid popularization of microlearning is due to several factors:

  • Information overload
  • Decreased attention span
  • The need to learn on the go
  • The digitalization of work
  • Mobile learning
  • AI development
  • Modernization of learning automation

Modern people value not just knowing a lot, but knowing exactly what’s useful right now. Microlearning fits this philosophy perfectly. You can learn accurately, quickly, and with practical application thanks to a modern microlearning solution accessible to everyone.

The Scientific Basis of Microlearning Principles

Microlearning isn’t just a passing fad. It’s the result of rigorous research in cognitive psychology and learning theory. Scientists claim that the human brain processes and remembers information better and more effectively if it is:

  • Broken down into small, logical chunks
  • Repeated at regular intervals
  • Accompanied by practice
  • Reinforced with feedback

A modern approach to learning not only improves the retention of material but also increases a person’s motivation to learn. Seeing how learning produces quick results creates the effect of small victories. And so, you want to move forward, master new material, and reach new heights.

The Combination of Microlearning and Modern Technologies

When studying microlearning examples, it’s important to emphasize that this method is perfectly combined with modern technologies. Thanks to AI platforms, this format has become not just trendy but extremely effective.

First, artificial intelligence allows for adapting learning material to a person’s current level of knowledge. Second, AI assistants analyze current progress and generate personalized recommendations. Third, AI can transform large texts into short learning units to create microlearning content and utilize it most effectively.

The example of the AI book chapter summarizer confirms that this tool creates concise and structured summaries from book chapters. This is the ideal and most optimal data format for microlearning. AI is gradually becoming an increasingly effective learning partner. These platforms don’t simply provide necessary information; they help transform it into action and improve understanding.

Microlearning Use Cases

In practice, microlearning already touches many areas of human activity. We can highlight the most popular ones.

  • Corporate training. Microlearning is in high demand in companies due to accelerated onboarding, upskilling, and training of employees in new technologies. Using short and interactive lessons, staff can complete courses without interrupting their workflow or current tasks.
  • Online courses and EdTech. Specialized platforms allow microlearning as a primary format. This allows users to learn sequentially, gradually, and without being overwhelmed.
  • Co-learning. Microlearning is an ideal tool for personal development. It can be used to learn new languages, develop writing skills, do data analysis, and much more. Even watching 5-minute tutorials every day can quickly create a learning habit.

Therefore, micro learning is rapidly gaining popularity and can serve as an effective alternative to traditional teaching methods.

Key Benefits of Microlearning

There are several key advantages of this new learning format:

  • Rapid information acquisition. Our brains absorb new information better in short blocks than in longer lectures.
  • Higher motivation. Each mini-lesson represents a small goal or task to be accomplished. Quickly hitting a goal spikes motivation.
  • Easier access and flexibility. Each learner gets to choose when and how to experience their training — in the morning with a cup of coffee, on the way to work, before bed, etc.
  • Customization. AI tools can help make content personalized in a way that accounts for a person’s rate, interests, and current level of knowledge.
  • Better productivity. The knowledge gained from mini-lessons can be put into practice faster and with minimal effort.

Clearly, the modern microlearning format offers significant advantages and opens up excellent prospects for self-development and the rapid acquisition of new skills.

Common Mistakes in Implementing Microlearning

Although this teaching method appears simple, a carefully thought-out structure is crucial. People often make the same mistakes.

First, topics are too superficial without context. Second, there are no connections between lessons. This results in lost learning. A third common mistake is overloading content without systematic repetition. And a fourth problem is undervaluing feedback. It’s important for people to see results.

Final Thoughts

Microlearning provides us with a chance to completely restructure our concept of conventional learning. This is because learning is much more natural, flexible, and tailored than ever. However, most importantly, we have an opportunity to learn new facts and information in the fast-paced world of modernity. The level of AI and analytics has resulted in microlearning being more personalized and accessible to everyone.

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Success Advice

What to do when you have already made it and feel stuck

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Image Credit: Addicted2success

Life often feels finished. That is usually when it starts costing you.

Last week I spoke with a man who seems to have it figured out. A nice business, a team that does not need him in every meeting, the house sorted, a wife who still likes him, which is more than a lot of the men I talk to can say. Halfway through he went quiet and admitted he feels like he is managing a life he signed up for ten years ago. Not miserable. Done growing. A little embarrassed to say it, because what is he supposed to complain about.

The scoreboard does not notice

I knew the feeling before he finished the sentence. Addicted2Success started as a blog in Perth when I was young enough to think the answer to everything was more output. It worked. The site grew, the audience grew, the coaching grew, and for a long time the scoreboard was kind enough to tell me I was on the right track. What it never does is send a note when you have started hiding. You can be posting, closing, travelling, and saying true things on the internet while becoming a slightly smaller man than you were two years ago. Nobody around you is going to flag it. They are responding to the results, and results only show what you already pulled off, not what the last year has been doing to you.

The men in these conversations are not stuck at the starting line. They have the income, the title, the reputation. Under it, a low-grade sense that they have been repeating themselves. The advice they grew up on does not touch that. Wake up earlier. Want it more. Outwork the room. I gave a version of that advice for years, and some of it was fair when someone had not started. It is useless once the room already knows your name. Past a certain point, more effort just maintains the life you have already outgrown.

It looks like leadership

When they are honest, it is ordinary. They are carrying the whole thing alone, not because nobody would help, but because letting someone close enough to challenge them would mean admitting a few decisions have gone soft. So they stay the smartest person in their own week. That feels like leadership. It functions like a closed loop. I did a long stretch of this. If someone disagreed with me I could usually out-talk them, and I mistook that for being right. The business did not collapse, which is what makes it hard to catch. Things can be working while you remain basically unaccountable. A lot of the signs people read as failure are the early version of this.

Home gets what is left

Work got the sharp hours. My wife got the man who had already spent the best of himself on a laptop. You can narrate that as provision for a long time. Tell yourself you are building something for them. Some days that is even true. It still does not change what they receive, which is a tired person who needs the room to be quiet. It holds until you have a kid who does not care what you shipped, or until you lose someone and realise the hours were never coming back. After Harper I stopped being able to treat time like something I could earn more of. Fatherhood finished whatever argument I had left. My son does not experience my ambition. He experiences whether I was in the room. He cannot tell the difference between a father who is building a legacy and a father who is on his phone. Neither can yours.

Reasonable is how it gets boring

Then there is the comfort, which everyone dresses up as wisdom. You postpone the move. You keep the offer that is fine. You say you are being strategic when you are mostly avoiding the feeling of being a beginner again. The edge does not vanish in a week. It goes over a year of reasonable decisions, and reasonable is how a lot of good lives get boring. I have watched men research a change for a year and a half. A new model, a new city, a new standard at home. The research becomes the thing they do instead of the change. It feels responsible. It has notes.

I used to have a clean system for this. It looked good in a carousel. What actually changed things was smaller and more annoying, and it only worked when I got specific.

Write the sentence you would not post

Not “I need better balance.” That is a sentence you can hide in. One line, the way you would say it if nobody was going to screenshot it. I am building in public and going missing at home. I have known this offer is done and I keep running it because the cash is easy. I have not let anyone challenge me since the last person who did, and I pushed them out. Put it where you will see it. The point is to stop negotiating with a foggy version of the problem. You cannot fix a foggy version. You will just buy another course about it.

Look at that sentence when you are not already fried. I wasted years making big calls late, after a full day of other people’s needs, then wondering why I always chose the option that protected the current setup. You are not wise when you are depleted. You are conservative. Pick a pocket of time this week when you still have a brain, phone in another room, and ask what you are protecting by leaving it as it is, and what it costs the people who do not get a vote in your calendar. If you catch yourself performing the answer, like you are drafting a caption, delete it and start again.

Take back one hour that has a name

Not a new morning routine. Men at this stage love a routine, because a routine feels like progress and does not threaten the life. Pick a repeatable hour that is already losing and give it a job. Dinner with the phone in a drawer. A walk with your wife where you do not steer it back to the business. Time with your kid before the laptop opens. The tactic is the boundary, not the activity. Tell one person what the hour is. If you miss it, you tell them the same day, without a story. The story is how it dies. A client emergency three weeks in a row is the old life collecting its rent. Being the person who agrees is how that hour gets given away before you notice.

Have the conversation, then date the move

There is almost always a conversation you have been drafting. A spouse you have been managing instead of talking to. A partner you have been working around. A number you have not said out loud, because saying it makes the next move real. Do not workshop it into a speech. Two sentences of what you have been avoiding, then stop talking long enough for them to answer. The men who stay stuck are usually eloquent about the problem and silent in the room where it could change. Eloquence is a delay tactic I have used plenty.

Then date the move that makes the current income nervous, and put it sooner than feels comfortable. One move. Kill the offer, raise the price, hire the person, have the hard no, book the conversation you have been waiting on the right week for. If it needs more than a couple of weeks of preparation, you are probably preparing past the point of usefulness. Let it be clumsy. The old identity will have a very reasonable case for why this stretch is not the one. It always does. It has been getting paid to keep things as they are.

You need one person who is not impressed

None of that works alone, which is inconvenient, since alone is the setup that got you here. You need one person who is not impressed by you. Not a mastermind. Not an audience. Not a coach you are performing progress for. Someone who can ask whether the phone actually stayed in the drawer, and who will not clap if the answer is no. Most of the men I know have plenty of people who benefit from them staying impressive. Employees, followers, friends who like the version that has it together. Almost nobody who is allowed to interrupt it. Ask someone specific if you can send them one sentence about whether you did the thing. If you do not send it, they chase you. That is the whole agreement. If you cannot think of a person, that is not a small detail. That is the closed loop, and finding the person is the first move.

I am not interested in telling you to burn the life down. A lot of what you built is worth keeping. The business can stay. The standard has to change, or you will spend the next ten years maintaining a life you already know you are done growing inside. What I care about is whether the man who benefits from it can still sit at the table with the people who paid for it. Your wife. Your kids. Whatever you say you believe when the content needs a spine. If those do not survive the win, the win was just a very well-paid way of leaving.

You already know which of these you have been talking yourself out of. Start with the sentence. The rest gets easier to see once you stop describing the problem in a way that lets you keep it.

In this video I speak about how you may be keeping yourself stuck in high achiever patterns and what you can do to change it:

 

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Success Advice

Icarus Syndrome: How to Catch Yourself When Success Comes Crashing Down

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Image Credit: Addicted2success

You know the story. A guy gets wings made of feathers and wax, dad tells him not to fly too close to the sun, guy ignores dad, wings melt, guy falls into the sea. Classic.

But here’s the thing about Icarus. He didn’t crash because he failed. He crashed because he was doing so well.

That’s the part we don’t talk about enough.

What Icarus Syndrome Actually Looks Like

Icarus Syndrome isn’t some official diagnosis you’ll find in a medical textbook. It’s more of a pattern. And once you spot it, you start seeing it everywhere.

Picture this: someone lands the promotion they’ve been chasing for years. Suddenly they’re saying yes to everything. More projects, more travel, more risk. The confidence that got them there starts to tip over into something else. Overreach, maybe. A bit of arrogance. That quiet voice that used to say “hang on, is this a good idea?” goes strangely silent.

And then it all comes tumbling down.

The tricky bit is that success and self-destruction can look almost identical from the outside. Both involve ambition. Both involve pushing hard. The difference is usually invisible until it’s too late.

Why Winning Can Set You Up to Lose

Ever noticed how a winning streak makes people a little reckless? There’s actually a reason for that.

When things go well, our brains get a hit of confidence that doesn’t always match reality. We start believing our own hype. The wins feel like proof that we can’t lose, which is exactly the moment we’re most likely to.

Turns out, success shrinks your awareness. You stop questioning yourself. You stop listening to feedback because, well, look at all this evidence that you’re right. The people who used to challenge your thinking? You might start tuning them out.

The other day someone told me they’d made their worst decisions not when they were struggling, but when everything was going great. That stuck with me. Because it makes a weird kind of sense.

Struggle keeps you humble. Success can make you forget.

The Warning Signs Worth Watching For

So how do you catch yourself before the wax starts dripping?

It usually starts small. You notice you’re brushing off advice you’d normally take seriously. You’re taking on more than you can realistically handle, but telling yourself you’ve got it. You feel a bit untouchable, like the normal rules don’t apply to you anymore.

Sleep goes out the window. You’re running on adrenaline and calling it drive.

And maybe the biggest one: you stop asking for help because asking for help feels like admitting you’re not as on top of things as everyone thinks.

This part’s a bit uncomfortable, but the very traits that fuel success, the ambition, the drive, the refusal to quit, are the same ones that can quietly steer you off a cliff. Same wings, different outcome.

Pulling Yourself Back From the Sun

Okay, so what do you actually do about it?

First, get honest about the story you’re telling yourself. Are you flying high because things are genuinely solid, or because you’ve stopped checking? There’s a difference, and only you can tell which one it is.

Keep people around who’ll tell you the truth. Not the yes-people who clap at everything, but the ones who’ll gently say “mate, are you sure about this?” Those people are worth their weight in gold, and they get rarer the more successful you become.

Slow down enough to notice how you’re actually feeling. Success can mask burnout for a surprisingly long time. You feel great right up until you don’t.

And look, sometimes catching yourself isn’t something you can do alone. If you’re feeling stretched thin, if the pressure of keeping it all up is starting to weigh on you, talking to someone helps more than people expect. Getting proper psychological support in Western Sydney or wherever you are isn’t a sign you’re falling apart. It’s usually a sign you’re paying attention.

Flying Smart Instead of Flying High

Here’s the thing Icarus never got told. The problem was never the flying. It was the ignoring.

His dad gave him a middle path. Not too high, not too low. He just got carried away.

You can enjoy your success without letting it make you stupid. You can keep climbing without pretending you’re invincible. The trick is staying awake to yourself, especially when everything looks like it’s going right.

Because that’s exactly when the sun feels closest.

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Success Advice

Quick and Meaningful Ways to Do Charity

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Image Credit: Addicted2success

Finding time to give back can feel overwhelming. Many people want to help others but think it takes a lot of time and planning. The truth is, simple, effective ways to support charity fit into busy lives. Whether you have a few minutes or a couple of hours, you can make a positive impact in your community. Helping others benefits those in need and gives you a sense of fulfilment and connection.

First, understand that charitable efforts can be quick and meaningful. You don’t need to organize a big event or donate a lot of money to make a difference. Small actions can make significant changes in others’ lives. Here are some ways to show generosity today.

Food Bank Donations

One of the simplest ways to help is by donating to a food bank. A food bank donation helps people facing food insecurity by redistributing surplus food and providing healthy meals. When you donate, you nourish someone’s day and ease their burden.

Local food banks often rely on donations from individuals and businesses. You can donate non-perishable items or fresh produce from your garden. If that’s not possible, consider making a monetary donation, which food banks can use to buy the needed food items. Every contribution counts and helps ensure families receive meals.

Volunteering your time at a local food bank is another great way to get involved. Many food donation organizations need help sorting donations, packing food boxes, or distributing meals. This hands-on work lets you see the positive impact of your efforts. You can also build friendships with staff and other volunteers as you work toward shared goals.

No-Cost Options

Charity doesn’t always have to cost money. You can donate your skills or time. If you’re good at graphic design or enjoy writing, your expertise can support local nonprofits’ outreach efforts. You might create promotional materials, manage social media, or offer training sessions.

Another no-cost option is to share charitable organizations on your social media. Inform friends and family about the causes you care about. Increased visibility can lead to more donations and volunteers. Sometimes, raising awareness matters as much as giving money.

Used Goods Donations

Decluttering your home is a great way to support charity. Look around. What items do you no longer use? Clothing, household goods, and toys can help someone in need. Local shelters, thrift stores, and nonprofits often welcome gently used items. By clearing out what you don’t need, you can provide useful items to those who can’t afford them.

You can enhance this experience by organizing a donation drive in your community. Involve friends and neighbours to gather more items together. This can become a fun community event that promotes giving.

Random Acts of Kindness

Doing random acts of kindness each day is an easy way to help others. Simple actions, like buying someone a coffee, leaving a nice note, or helping a neighbour carry groceries, can spread goodwill. These acts not only brighten someone’s day but also promote kindness in your community.

Try setting a goal to do a certain number of kind acts each week. This can become a good habit that changes how you interact with others. It doesn’t matter how big or small the act is. What matters is the intention behind it.

Skill-Based Volunteering

Using your professional skills to help a charity can foster personal growth while supporting those in need. Whether you are a teacher, marketer, lawyer, or accountant, your skills can greatly benefit nonprofits. Many nonprofits need help in areas where they can’t afford to hire professionals.

Some food donation organizations specifically seek volunteers with certain skills, so look for a nonprofit that matches your background. You can create change by using your expertise and meet others who share your interests.

Getting involved in charitable activities allows you to help create a better world. The good news is you don’t need much time or money to make a difference. Whether you volunteer at a local food bank, donate items, or do random acts of kindness, your efforts can lead to real change. These small actions can bring great fulfillment, improving not just the lives of those you help but your own, too.

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