Success Advice
5 Ways You’re Subconsciously Sabotaging Your Online Success

You’re an entrepreneur with big dreams and goals. You work long hours and most weekends but despite all the effort and hustle, you’re struggling to hit 4 figures let alone 5 figures in income.
The way you see it, you’re doing everything right. You’re a consistent blogger, you network, you’ve read heaps of business and marketing books and taken online classes. So what’s up? Why isn’t your inbox overflowing with enquiries from people eager to work with you?
Here are 5 sneaky ways you may be subconsciously sabotaging your online success:
1. Your email signature is not quite right
You use an email signature because you want to look professional and trustworthy. But you’ve forgotten to include your contact information. In fact, not only have you neglected to include contact details, your email signature consists of only your name and logo. No website link. No link to your latest blog post and no link to your social media accounts.
Make sure your email signature includes the following:
- Your first and last name
- Your company name and website URL
- Your company logo
- Your contact details
- Links to your social media accounts
- Link to your latest blog post
2. You neglect to include share buttons
As someone who has to regularly curate content for my clients, I find nothing more irritating than coming to the end of a great post and not finding share buttons. I know I’m not alone on this.
Here’s the thing, chances are you’ve slaved over your blog posts to make sure your ideal audience will find your content original, educational and useful. So why not make it easy for readers to spread the love? Including social share buttons increases the likelihood of getting fresh eyeballs on your content.
Here’s what you can do:
- Include social media share buttons in your posts
- Try out Social Warfare or SumoMe if you’re on WordPress.
“Content is king, but marketing is queen, and runs the household.” – Gary Vaynerchuk
3. You don’t use images
Text is only one part of a great blog. Just like an enticing headline is vital to a blog post’s success, so are images. Every post should include a featured image. This image is the one that will appear at the top of the post and on social media when it gets shared.
Use an easy-to-use tool like Canva (there is a free version) to create eye-catching images.
Here’s what you can do:
- Include at least one image in every blog post
- Include your post’s headline in the image
4. You’re hiding in the crowd
Successful people don’t blend in with the crowd. They stand out. If you’re staying small and safe by offering up more of the same (content, products, features) then you’re not going to rise above your competitors. To stand out, dare to be different.
Doug Pick’s, founder and president of Hearos Earplugs, formula for success is to see where the masses are headed and go the other way. He asked himself: “If the trend is to go downstream, what if I go upstream?”
This of course, demands real effort and vision on your part. It means considering all possibilities and looking for gaps in the market.
Here’s what you can do:
- Refuse to blend in.
- Be authentic.
- Share your own perspective.
- Adopt a contrarian mindset.
“As an actor, I think sort of relish the chance to take a leap and sort of put yourself out there…you just have to be willing to embarrass yourself, because otherwise you are not going to really reveal anything that you have. So I think it’s exciting.” – Daniel Radcliffe
5. You’re not building a community
The surest way to build trust and likeability online is to develop an online community. You should be doing this on social media. Focus on growing those channels where your target audience hangs out. For example if your ideal client is mostly on Facebook and Twitter then make sure you are active in both.
Building an online community will do two things for your brand: Help nurture relationships with your audience and differentiate you from your competitors. Invest a minimum of thirty minutes a day to create and share content that will delight your audience and spark discussion.
Here’s what you can do:
- Be consistent with your posts.
- Respond to messages and comments.
- Follow back and engage.
Take a closer look at your email, blog and social media and see where you can implement these points to improve your chances of success.
Which one of these tips are you going to focus more on today? Leave your thoughts below!
Image courtesy of Twenty20.com
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Personal Development
These 11 Habits Will Make You More Productive, Successful, and Confident
Boost your focus, confidence, and results with 11 powerful habits successful people use every day.

Successful people love to help beginners. They have an incredible work ethic and rarely complain. As a result, others naturally look up to them and want to follow in their footsteps.
But here’s the truth: there’s no success without sacrifice. You’ll need to give up comfort, excuses, and sometimes even social approval to accomplish your goals.
Value comes from solving problems, and these 11 powerful tips will help you become more productive, successful, and confident, starting today.
1. Take Short Breaks After Finishing a Task
Psychology shows it’s important to reward positive behaviour.
After completing a big task or finishing a book, take five minutes to walk, stretch, or simply breathe. This quick reset helps your brain recharge and strengthens focus.
Many great writers swear by morning walks, solitude, and reflection can unlock creativity.
But if you refuse to take breaks, don’t be surprised when burnout hits. Your brain needs recovery time just as much as your body does.
2. Schedule Your Most Important Tasks First
Multitasking kills productivity. If you want to get more done, try time blocking, a method where you dedicate set periods for specific tasks.
Productivity expert Caitlin Hughes explains, “Time blocking involves scheduling blocks of time for your tasks throughout the day.”
For example, if you’re a writer:
-
Research your topic at night.
-
Write your first draft in the morning (don’t worry if it’s rough).
-
Edit in the afternoon, great writing comes from rewriting.
You can’t buy more time. Use it intentionally and without regret.
3. Eliminate Distractions from Your Workspace
Focus is the foundation of success.
According to Inc. Magazine, it takes an average of 23 minutes to recover from a distraction. That’s nearly half an hour of lost productivity every time you check your phone.
Put your phone away. Close unnecessary tabs. And yes, limit your Netflix binges.
Meeting deadlines consistently is one of the fastest ways to stand out and earn respect.
4. Take Full Responsibility for Your Life
Entrepreneur Derek Sivers once said, “Everything is my fault.”
This mindset doesn’t mean self-blame; it means self-ownership. Stop pointing fingers, making excuses, or waiting for others to change.
If your habits (like smoking or drinking too much) hold you back, it’s time to make better choices. Your friends can’t live your dreams for you; only you can.
5. Invest an Hour a Day in Learning New Skills
Knowledge compounds over time.
Whether you read books, take online courses, or practise a craft, consistent learning gives you a competitive edge.
I used to struggle with academic writing, but I improved by studying the work of great authors and applying what I learned.
Your past doesn’t define you; your actions do. Every new skill adds another tool to your arsenal and makes you more unstoppable.
6. Develop a Growth Mindset
Psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck introduced the concept of fixed vs. growth mindset.
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A fixed mindset believes success is based on natural talent.
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A growth mindset believes success comes from effort and learning.
Choose the growth mindset. Embrace challenges. See failures as feedback. In today’s fast-moving digital world, adaptability is your biggest advantage.
7. Learn Marketing to Reach People Who Need You
I once believed marketing was manipulative, until I realised it’s about helping people solve problems.
If your work provides genuine value, marketing is how you let others know it exists. Even Apple spends billions on it.
Don’t be ashamed to promote your skills or business. Without visibility, your ideas will never reach the people who need them most.
Creative professionals who understand marketing and sales have an unfair advantage.
8. Ask Your Mentor the Right Questions
Good mentors can fast-track your growth.
While mentorship often costs money, it’s one of the best investments you can make. Great mentors don’t care about titles; they care about your progress.
If you don’t have access to a mentor yet, books are your silent mentors. Read the best in your field, take notes, and apply what resonates.
9. Build Confidence Through Action, Not Affirmations
Author Ryan Holiday once said, “I don’t believe in myself. I have evidence.”
Confidence doesn’t come from shouting affirmations into the mirror; it comes from proof. Doing hard things, keeping promises to yourself, and following through.
When you consistently take action, your brain gathers evidence that you can handle whatever comes next. That’s real confidence, grounded, earned, and unshakable.
10. Focus on Your Strengths
Your strengths reveal where your greatest impact lies.
If people compliment you on something often, it’s a clue. Lean into it.
A former professor once told me I was creative, and that simple comment gave me the confidence to go all in. I studied creativity, applied it daily, and turned it into my career advantage.
Double down on your strengths. That’s how you build momentum and mastery.
11. Identify and Challenge Your Limiting Beliefs
Your beliefs shape your reality.
For years, I believed I couldn’t be a great writer because of my chronic tinnitus and astigmatism, sensory challenges that made concentration difficult. But over time, I realised those struggles made me more disciplined, observant, and empathetic.
Your limitations can become your greatest motivators if you let them.
Avoid shortcuts. Growth takes time, but it’s always worth it.
Final Thoughts
Becoming productive, successful, and confident isn’t about working harder than everyone else. It’s about working smarter, consistently, and intentionally.
You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Start small: take a break after your next task, schedule your priorities, or spend one hour learning something new.
Every habit you change compounds into long-term success. Remember, true change comes from practising new behaviours.
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