Success Advice
5 Habits Successful People Have To Overcome Failure

Have you ever wondered how the likes of Elon Musk achieve so much, while still having the time to enjoy a personal life and travel the globe? Money helps, of course, but this isn’t how successful people achieve what they do.
What sets them apart is their ability to maintain positive habits, so they can maximise their time (even when hardship hits). This skill of turning failure into success is key, and although it may seem like these successful people are superhuman, they are not.
Successful people are good at overcoming failure. Like you and me, they make mistakes. Life doesn’t always go according to plan, but this doesn’t stop them from achieving their potential. They don’t overcome this with money, power, or fame. They don’t have a secret you don’t. But they do have a set of positive habits that sets them apart, and with a little tweaking, so can you.
Here are 5 habits successful people have to overcome their failures:
1. They ‘reflect’ each day
Successful people take time out of their day (every day) to take a step back and reflect on their life. What’s working? What’s not working?
For many, this involves meditation, but as Andrea Shillington often does, a simple walk can do the trick. As founder of a busy branding agency, Andrea doesn’t always have the time to sit and meditate. Instead, she goes for a walk, but is ‘mindful’ as she does; taking the time to ‘take’ it all in. This is one positive habit anyone can do, and all it takes is 5-10 minutes each day.
2. They wake up early (even if they aren’t a morning person)
You won’t meet many successful people who sleep beyond 7am. Whether you’re a morning person or not, there’s huge value to waking up early (even if you spend this time reflecting, instead of working).
This changed Hal Elrod’s life, offering him the time to get more done, relieve stress, and turn each mistake into a big success. How you start your day is how you continue it. So if you begin tired, frustrated, and frantic, how can you expect the rest of your day to be anything but?
“The sun has not caught me in bed in fifty years.” – Thomas Jefferson
3. They focus on the work they need to do
There’s always a million tasks you could work on, but there’s usually only one that you should. Successful people do not allow distractions to take control. They focus. They get the job done. They work on what they need to, and everything else takes a backseat.
Cal Newport has dedicated his recent life to ‘deep work’, proving that successful people stay focussed, despite today’s obsession towards ‘hustling’ and working at a relentless pace.
It’s a lie. There’s no glory in the ‘hustle’.Success lies in focus, and getting what you need to do done (as in, right now)!
4. They turn up every single day
Jerry Seinfeld became one of the world’s most successful comedians, not by working the hardest, but by working smarter than everyone else. His philosophy was simple: turn up each day and do ‘something’.
Create a chain. Build momentum. Focus on achieving one small win today, and repeat the same tomorrow. I’ve watched my friend Scott Oldford achieve such success by turning up every single day.
When we first met, he was the guy who worked the hardest (and got into $725,000 of debt). Today, he works the smartest, creating one small win after another (turning mistakes into success each time).
5. They do not fear mistakes or failure
As human beings, we all share something in common: we make mistakes, and we sometimes fail.
Successful people are no different to you and me, but they do approach failure different to most. They do not fear it. They do not let it hold them back. If anything, they ensure it leads them to greatness.
When Beate Chelette spoke with Srinivas Rao, she said, “without failure, you are a loser.” This is how successful people think. This is how they approach each day. They appreciate failure may occur today, but they do not allow this to stand in their way.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
Whilst writing ‘The Successful Mistake’, this is what I learned above all else. Mistakes happen, but they are not the reasons you fail.
The only time you do fail is when you allow this fear to take control of you. This is a daily battle, but these five positive habits ensure you stay on top. This is what the successful people you admire do, and with a little tweaking to your approach and mindset, you can too.
What habits are you going to implement into your life today? Leave your thoughts below!
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While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.
Why This Gap Exists
Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.
What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.
Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap
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1. Practice Mutual Empathy
Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.
2. Maintain Professional Boundaries
Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.
3. Follow the Golden Rule
Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.
4. Avoid Micromanagement
Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.
5. Empower Employees to Grow
Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.
6. Communicate in All Directions
Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.
7. Overcome Insecurities
Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.
8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship
True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.
9. Eliminate Favoritism
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10. Recognize Efforts Promptly
Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.
11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews
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12. Provide Leadership Development
Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.
13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles
Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.
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Build diverse talent pipelines
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Embrace flexible work models
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Design compelling career paths
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Simplify HR processes
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Redefine the value HR brings
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Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff
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Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.
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