The Biggest Obstacle to Success

 

  ". We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.”
John Dryden

Have you ever felt like you have great potential, but something keeps holding you back from truly taking off? In his book No Excuses!, Brian Tracy explains that 95% of what we do—or fail to do—is determined by our habits. That means if we want to be successful, we must pay close attention to the small habits we often overlook.

Tracy points out that the greatest barrier to success isn’t a lack of talent or opportunity—it’s our own negative habits and limiting beliefs. Like an elephant trained from a young age to believe it can’t break free from a rope, we often get trapped in learned helplessness. As a result, we fear trying new things, fear failure, and prefer to stay in our comfort zones.

But here’s the good news: every habit—both mental and behavioral—can be learned and changed. We can develop positive habits like time discipline, self-confidence, and consistency in pursuing goals. Building just one good habit can strengthen all the others.

Tracy also warns about a “disease” that destroys success: excusitis the habit of making excuses. Many people live on an imaginary island called Someday I’ll a place where dreams are always postponed with the words, “Someday I’ll...”. Unfortunately, “someday” often never comes.

The key to success? Start now. Choose one positive habit, practice it daily for a full month, and keep going. Every small action is a step toward your dream.

As LL Cool J once said, “Stay focused, go after your dreams and keep moving toward your goals.”