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Success Advice

Why You Need to Increase Your Mental Bandwidth Immediately

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If you’d like to learn how to increase your mental toughness so you can face your fears and get out of your comfort zone, sign up for the free 90-Day Master Class hosted by the founder of Addicted2Success.com, Joel Brown.


The bus driver told me in broken english to sit back down because the police were coming for me. This had to be a misunderstanding. I was on a night bus in Portugal when I noticed my ipad missing from my seat. Maybe it fell down the side and slid to the back of the bus? While the bus was moving, I got up and looked chair to chair hoping to locate it before everyone got off at the final stop.

Long story short, I never got it back, someone had clearly stolen it, and the police decided not to charge me for disobeying the drivers orders and standing up while the bus was moving. I was frantic. I just lost my ipad with all my vacation plans on it, pictures of my late father and many business documents. It was my fault. I’d lost concentration momentarily on the bus and someone took advantage of that. I didn’t know how to react. I hadn’t and don’t make careless mistakes (or so I thought). So my reaction was pretty bad.

My father passed away unexpectedly mere weeks before, it was midnight in a town I’d never been in, and this inconvenience was not scheduled within my 6 month trip around the world. So I broke down crying, as a grown man at a bus stop. Not for the ipad, but for the slap in the face life had given me. 

What this lesson taught me is that we have it too good. I had it too good for too long, and as such, my mental bandwidth had shrunk.

The Grind

Our day to day is filled with activities and emotions that are quite confined. That’s why we call it the grind, monotony, or the rat race. Up to 95% of what we do is habit based, meaning we tend to repeat the same stuff over and over, even if (like me) it’s in a different place.

What does your day look like? You get up, make breakfast, go to work, come home, make dinner, and go to sleep. Your day might have its own challenges with a bus running late, or your boss busting your balls, but you get to go to sleep safe at home at the end of it.

Everything that occurs from waking up to sleeping is pretty much standard, bland almost. How much variability can there truly be? Your life exists within a certain bandwidth of emotions and mental states.

That’s why the theft caught me so off guard. It had been too long since I had been shaken up and exposed to the realities of the world. There are people out there more desperate than me who will steal to get ahead. This is why expanding your mental bandwidth is so important.

“If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I’m about to do today?” – Steve Jobs 

The Range

Your every day will include many instances of contact with people. Within that exist certain societal structures that allow you to get things done. There are policies and protocols at work, which ensure that most people are polite and professional in the workplace. No-one wants to get sued or fired. We stay within that range.

We are mostly on autopilot in developed countries, where taxis run by a legitimate meter, and public transport is mostly safe and relatively on time. It’s not a hassle to get around logistically, and it’s rare that you’ll be robbed or ripped off. Supermarkets have everything we could possibly ever need and are sometimes open 24 hours. Many even deliver to your door.

In the first world, our challenges are more benign. In terms of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, we’re at the top. Pushing for the stuff that gives us fulfillment. When travelling through less developed countries, you see the opposite.

People do things just to survive. Kids leave school at 14 to drive covered rickshaws around angkor wat, so that you can get from temple to temple without getting too sunburnt. As such, it’s easy for us to become complacent, float through life, and not have to think too hard about fending for ourselves.

Our emotional responses to things only fit between a certain range, and it takes something pretty drastic to shake that up. Do you remember in school when a bully decided you were his victim that day, week, month, or year? When’s the last time you were harshly rejected for a job you really wanted or for a love interest you really liked? It’s these types of emotions we need to get back, but in a positive way.

The Change

Losing my ipad wasn’t so much about being stolen from, but more so around my mental state being radically altered. It was the realisation that more of life existed outside my normal bandwidth. It had been challenged and changed, with a clear before and after.

It all comes down to personal resilience. How do we deal with things outside our normal range? We need to seek out challenges that put us in similar situations. You’re familiar with your job and competent at your hobbies. Try and think of the last time you tried something new, that really put you out of your comfort zone, when you started from the bottom.

I joined a kickboxing gym, and despite working up to it over weeks, sparring with an experienced fighter scared me to death. But you know what, I’m still here.

No-one can predict losing a loved one, being stolen from, losing your job, getting in a fight, crashing your car or any one of the many events that can shake up our life. So, in the meantime, we need to look at what and how we are truly challenged, and only then can we expand our bandwidth. This will help us grow and prepare us for when the unfortunate does come our way.

“Most everything that you want is just outside your comfort zone.” – Jack Canfield

Conclusion: 

Do an honest audit of your life. Write down 3 activities that scare you. Then go do them. This video shows how much benefit Jesse Itzer got from motivational figure David Goggins when they spent a month together.

What Jesse gained was being pushed outside of his comfort zone. While we can’t all get a navy seal to live with us and coach us for a month, we can be our own coach.

For your 5 activities, utilise SMART planning to ensure that you can achieve your goals. Think of it like a project and break it down into manageable chunks you can work towards on a daily or weekly basis. If it’s to go skydiving solo, get in contact with sky diving schools, commit and buy your first 3 lessons. That way, the money commitment will keep you incentivised to attend your sessions.

Book them in your diary and inform some friends or family, so that there’s a level of accountability. Repeat for your other activities. Eventually life will test your mental bandwidth or you can choose to tackle it head on. Don’t be the adult crying at a bus stop over an ipad. Grow your bandwidth on your own terms.

What’s the last thing you did that took you out of your comfort zone? Share your experience below!

Matt McKee is a Pharmacology graduate, Med School dropout and a qualified Trainer with extensive experience influencing people for a living. Now using my skills for good. My purpose is to help you become the best version of yourself.  Check out my tips here and connect with me to maximize your potential.

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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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Mark Manson life lessons on success
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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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