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Success Advice

Never Forget Where You Came From

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Last week, my mentor and friend Joel Brown, asked me to speak at one of his Circle Of Influence, Mastermind sessions.

What I thought would be a routine call with me sharing blogging tips, turned into a mini pep talk. I want to share the same advice with you because I know it can help you.

That advice is this: Never forget where you came from.

We all start somewhere.

On the mastermind call, I told the story of how I was a spoilt brat that had come to a crossroads in life. I was searching for what was next when I met Joel Brown for the first time in Perth. I’d followed his blog, Addicted2Success, for many years after a friend of a friend, Dave Nelson, introduced me to it.

Through a series of strange events, I started writing inspiring content for Joel’s blog. This was peculiar because I hated writing and saw myself as useless with the English language. None the less, I just got started with no plan in mind.

My online following through Addicted2Success soon became much larger than I expected. I started writing for other websites but always made sure Addicted2Success was at the center of everything.

Why acknowledge the source of your success?

Because without it you’d have nothing. Without being grateful for the good fortune you have been given, you’d become someone who thinks they did it all on their own.

None of us did it alone. We all had help whether we admit it or not. Without Joel’s help, I’d be nowhere and inspiring nobody.

That’s why every podcast interview I do, every guest post I do, I never forget where I came from.

It doesn’t matter what you start with.

I shared a story on the mastermind call that is not well known. Joel started his now infamous blog by writing other people’s ideas in his own voice and adding his thoughts to it.

“He didn’t start as some enlightened genius: he started with nothing”

He to came from nowhere and had help. A man named Jordan Belfort and another man named Tony Robbins inspired him. They were the catalyst for him reaching hundreds of millions of people through his content and blog.

Just like me, he also never forgets where he came from. He also points back to these early influences as being how he got his big break.

The secret to every successful person is they never forget where they came from.

They never forget what it was like to be broke. They never forget how bad their talent was in the beginning. They never forget how much they hated their 9-5 job.

“By not forgetting where you came from, you ensure you never go backward. You ensure you always remain grateful and humble so you can keep doing what you love”

Loyalty is never forgotten.

Sure I’ve had many opportunities to forget where I came from. I could produce content for any website I want yet I still remain loyal to the cause, and the people who helped me. This loyalty is never forgotten. When an opportunity comes up that is in your field, these people your loyal to remember you.

Loyalty is so rare and that’s why it’s not forgotten. The opportunities you’re missing may be caused by the fact that you’re not building in-depth, loyal relationships with people who’ve helped and mentored you.

Pay it forward.

Remembering where you came from is not enough. Once you reach some level of success, you must pay it forward. Otherwise, it’s a one-way street and your ego takes over. Great mentors like Joel have taught me that leaders breed more inspirational leaders.

If you’ve had your chance in the spotlight, help others get theirs. You don’t need to spend that much of your free time either. There are a few people I mentor and it’s mostly done through short email messages. It takes me no time at all. The growth these mentees’ have received has impressed me.

Seeing them grow has allowed me to grow at the same time. Their growth keeps me focused on the idea that any of us can achieve phenomenal results.

Where you came from is the inspiration.

Only seeing the success stops all of us from pursuing our own passions. When you share where you’ve come from, you show us how incredibly straightforward it can be. Success looks complicated until we see where our heroes started.

It’s how people get their big break that gives us the strategies and tools to do the same. You may think where you’ve come from isn’t that crucial: It is.

We need to see the tipping point in your success to see the same in our own success. Your beginning has more golden nuggets than you could possibly ever imagine and it’s your duty to share them with us. It’s your duty to duplicate your success in others.

It’s your duty to pay it forward and never forget where you came from.

If you want to increase your productivity and learn some more valuable life hacks, then join my private mailing list on timdenning.net

Aussie Blogger with 500M+ views — Writer for CNBC & Business Insider. Inspiring the world through Personal Development and Entrepreneurship You can connect with Tim through his website www.timdenning.com

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Change Your Mindset

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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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