The 5 Mistakes that Sabotage Your Success

The 5 Mistakes that Sabotage Your Success
By Liz Pabon

There are times when most of us have experienced that sense of despair that comes from trying to reach our goals and seeing no light at the end of the tunnel, we do the one thing that stops our progress coldwe sabotage ourselves.

During the dot.com bomb, there were thousands of highly qualified men and women who could not get a job. No amount of networking, calling in of favors, or bribing helped to get them a new job. The market was in a state of gloom.

As a means to stay connected, myriad of out-of-work networking and other groups were formed. And in these groups business professionals from various walks of life all shared one common battle - the battle to stay positive while under duress.

The small business warrior is no stranger to this battle. Having invested all the time, money and energy you can afford and what youve borrowed the results you anticipated dont come soon enough.

To continue fighting the good fight, and stay on course, avoid the following most common self-sabotage mistakes:

Limited Beliefs
Our thoughts and words are powerful. They are the number one support tool we have to guide us towards our goals.

When we dont believe we can, we wont.

Its a universal law that those things we say to ourselves as well as what we think about, manifests itself in our lives. Changing your belief system as it relates to your success is the #1 first step towards achieving success. Believe that you can, and you will!

Lack of Vision
What is the vision you have for your life by the end of 2006? What about the end of 2007? Do you see significant enrichment in your life? If not, is your vision too small?

Having worked with entrepreneurs for the past few years, one common obstacle that repeatedly reveals itself is lack of vision (no vision at all or a very small view of the future) or vision that is fuzzy, not clear.

Your vision is much like the roadmap for your life. Would you take a long-distance trip without plotting out your route, rest stops, etc.? If you want to enjoy your trip and get to your final destination comfortably, probably not!

Plotting out your vision is essential to make sure you are going in the right direction. Take the time to visualize your future. Dont let limited beliefs and old programming stand in the way of what is possible.

Fear of the unknown
I remember as a small child, jumping into a lake was frightening. Not because I had a fear of water or of drowning, but because I feared what was beneath the dark pool of liquid. I couldnt see what was beyond the top layer of deep blue water and it paralyzed me.

Not knowing what we might encounter by trying a new approach in our business is like jumping into the unknown. As frightening as it might feel, we do not need to be ruled by our feelings.

After finally taking the plunge (no pun intended) and jumping into the lake, I realized that my fear was for nothing. The experience, although scary at first, was invigorating and thrilling. Later, as I got older, I decided to really go into the deep and became a certified scuba diver. Ive never regretted conquering the fear of the unknown.

Toxic relationships
Wouldnt it be lovely if everyone we ever knew and know supported every decision we made with fervor. Some of us are lucky to have incredible support systems in our lives while others battle the war of toxic relationships.

Can we change them? No. The only things we have 100% power over is how we manage what is dished out to us. This means that while we cant expect others to change (nothing wrong with praying for it), we can change how we choose to accept the negative feedback we receive from them.

For example, if you know that a friend, family member or colleague is especially unsupportive of your business, dont discuss business with that person. Instead, discuss your business with those in your sphere that you know will provide you with the support and nurturing you need to lift you up.

While we cant always divorce our family members, we can divorce ourselves from their negativity.

Fear of success
Upon watching a Discovery channel documentary about a young woman that was in excess of 200 pounds overweight, I witnessed fear of success at its worst.

The cameras followed this woman for over one year. During that time she dropped a significant amount of weight and with that loss came the loss of dignity and control. The more weight she lost, the more pressure she felt to stay thin and the more erratic her behavior became.

She later admitted that with each pound lost, she felt pressure to not only keep her weight off but also felt the pressure of living up to a new set of standards the standards she perceived were expected of a thinner woman. Her family and friends offered her all the support they could give. Her perceptions were based on her belief system and not the judgment of her sphere.

Later, no longer being able to handle the pressure (that she put on herself), she began to gain back her weight. At last report, she gained back all of the weight she had worked so hard to loose and gained back even more.

Fear of success is crippling. If you are someone who fears success ask yourself this; would I rather fear success and all that comes with it, or would I rather attract opportunities that are right for me? The choice IS yours.

If you find yourself caught in the fear cycle, re-evaluate your beliefs and vision. You and only you have the power to put a stop to the vicious self-sabotage revolving door.

Remember to think Big, live Big and play Big!

2006 Copyright, Liz Pabon. All rights reserved.

Liz Pabon is inspiring, motivating and empowering - but most importantly, shes effective.
A speaker and author on the topic of personal branding, Liz delivers insights and principles to entrepreneurs that are proven to maximize personal and professional success.
Liz publishes a monthly eZine, Keys to Success, offering success strategies that boost your business! Register for your free subscription at http://www.lizpcommunications.com.

To learn more about developing your unique personal brand, and to experience a breakthrough in your business contact Liz at 916-788-2962 or email her at liz@lizpcommunications.com.

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