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Success Advice

7 Uncomfortable but Essential Things You Should Be Doing for Success

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Midjourney

By now we all know that what separates successful people from the not so successful is largely the mindset and action they take; it’s been proven repeatedly.  The next question on everyone’s mind is what mindset and actions are they taking that is so different?  

The first thing to know is that success and comfort don’t really fit in the same sentence and this is where most of the ‘not so successful’ people fail. To live a larger life than you currently are, you need to get uncomfortable.  The problem is simple, most people run away from anything that makes them uncomfortable – it is a paradox.

If you’ve ever been curious as to where you might be falling short – kill your curiosity now. If you start to expand your ‘world’ by doing things that are uncomfortable, you will see your reality change and experience success on a completely different level than you ever have.

Here are 7 uncomfortable but essential things you should be doing if you want to change your story about success now:

1. Remove toxic people from your life

You will never really see how toxic someone is until you breathe fresher air. You might not have made a conscious choice when you were younger who you let into your life, but you do have a choice now. The people in your life should be supportive and encouraging and of course, never make you feel less. But additionally, their mindset influences yours and their level of success.

You are a product of your environment, surround yourself with the best and you will become better. Once you let go of negative people, the positive ones appear. Just like you might have developed limiting beliefs from your environment as a child, the same happens with the environment you are in when you are an adult.

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn

2. Tell your fears to get the hell out of the way

Fear will always be a part of life. It doesn’t disappear over time or with growth, it will always be there. The only thing you can improve on is your relationship with fear and how you manage it. People let fear stop them all the time. That’s why they don’t take action even if they know it is the right thing to do.

Fear can feel very real and physical, but this is because your mind can’t tell the difference between real or imagined ‘fears’.  So you need to understand that fear is normal, but again, you need to get uncomfortable, charge ahead anyway and prepare yourself for the challenge and then rise to it. FEAR Is False Evidence Appearing Real; more often than not. So why let it control you?

3. Take time management seriously

A lot of people seem to think that how they spend their time and the results they get in life aren’t connected. In fact, it’s everything! How you spend your time determines whether you will achieve your goals. It might not be fun to plan, prioritize and strategize your time. You might feel uncomfortable at the thought of it, but unless you take it more seriously, you can expect to get the same results.

Maximize your time to maximize your results. If you don’t manage your time effectively, you are not managing your life and success as effectively as you could. All successful people value time, they don’t waste it!

4. Sacrifice is an ingredient

There are most likely some things you need to give up in order to gain what you want. Things like waking up earlier to get more done, staying in to get something done for your business instead of going out, investing your money into growth and sacrificing other things you could buy.  

It is about prioritizing the results you want to have over what is currently blocking them, that which you need to sacrifice.  Sacrifice is not bad, but it is essential to achieving anything. If you are not willing to give up some things in order to gain something bigger, you will not achieve your highest level of success.

“You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it.” – Lionel Messi

5. Play the lottery with life

Every time someone plays the lottery, they risk losing the amount they played so easily. Yet, this is so much easier for people to do. Why not play a bit of lottery with what you can create for yourself in life?   If we could predict, plan and stay on a path that would ensure success – great; but that’s another world and it’s not the one we live in.   

If you don’t take risks, you will not go very far. Your results might slowly get better, but you won’t have any huge shifts or wins that can catapult you to the next stage of your success.  Remember the greater the risk, the greater the reward. Just take a chance!

6. Consistent action must become automatic

Successful people put results before comfort. They don’t make a few efforts this week; then tail off, then the following week they are back on track. They don’t go from highs to lows as much either. They ‘manage themselves’ and take consistent daily action towards their goals. If they don’t like the task, they delegate or they do it anyway, that’s it. They know that routines and consistency are key to creating the foundations for success.

7. Listen to your intuition more than the facts

This doesn’t sound right, I know, in fact it sounds very ‘unbusiness’ like. The truth is that your brain can be fooled, but your gut doesn’t know how to lie. The facts might look good on paper but when you have a sense that there’s something wrong, your heart knows things that your mind can’t explain.

Start listening to your intuition more. Follow what feels right and see how your intuition is almost always right. Richard Branson swears by it, and I’m sure you can remember those times when you wished you had listened to your gut, and you didn’t.

Remember, the uncomfortable needs to become your new comfortable. The more uncomfortable, the bigger the growth.  If you apply just one of the tips above into your life, you will notice positive changes immediately. Don’t only read other people’s stories of success, start to write your own.

Which one of these tips are you going to implement immediately? Leave your thoughts below!

Kirstin O’Donovan is a “multinational” productivity coach, author and founder of TopResultsCoaching an international company providing coaching services in nearly a dozen countries. With over 10 years working in the field of coaching and personal development, she provides her expertise to help individuals create the life and results they desire.   Kirstin also writes for various international publications in personal development. Kirstin, a certified NLP Practitioner, holds various qualifications, certificates and credentials related to personal and business coaching. She is the author of ‘Maximize your time to maximize your profit’ and Co-Author of ‘The Confident Woman’ and ‘There is GOLD inside YOU.’

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Success Advice

11 Mark Manson Lessons That’ll Redefine Success in the Digital Age

Success in the digital age isn’t about hacks, it’s about the raw, real lessons Mark Manson actually lives by.

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In 2016, Mark Manson released The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, a brutally honest, thought-provoking book that redefined self-help for a new generation. (more…)

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Change Your Mindset

The Secret Daily Routines Behind History’s Most Brilliant Thinkers

Uncover the daily rituals and hidden habits that powered history’s most brilliant minds to success.

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Why Daily Rituals Matter

Every great achiever has one thing in common: discipline. Behind the novels, inventions, discoveries, and masterpieces are small, consistent habits repeated daily. (more…)

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Did You Know

How to Turn a Simple Link-in-Bio Into a Powerful Brand Hub

Transform your forgotten bio link into a high-impact gateway that fuels engagement, clicks, and conversions across every social platform.

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Social media is one of the greatest marketing tools in 2025. According to a recent study, some 86% of marketers globally use platforms like Facebook and Instagram for advertisements, while 94% use it for content distribution.  (more…)

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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.

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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.

  • A fixed mindset believes success is based on natural talent.

  • 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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