I’ve always been fascinated by what makes some people wildly successful while others—just as talented and hardworking—struggle to break through.
Over the years, I’ve realized that success isn’t just about talent, luck, or intelligence. It’s about habits.
Psychology shows us that high achievers don’t just work harder; they think and act differently in ways that set them apart. The good news? These habits aren’t something you’re born with—they’re things anyone can develop.
In this article, I’ll share eight life-changing habits that can take you from feeling stuck to reaching new levels of achievement.
Whether you’re building a business, improving your personal life, or just trying to be more effective in what you do, these habits can make all the difference. Let’s dive in.
1) Embrace a growth mindset
Most people think talent is what separates high achievers from the rest. But psychology tells a different story.
Carol Dweck, a psychologist at Stanford University, introduced the idea of a “growth mindset“—the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed with effort.
On the flip side, people with a “fixed mindset” believe their skills are set in stone.
The difference? High achievers see challenges as opportunities to learn rather than signs they’re not good enough.
They don’t avoid failure; they use it to grow. Instead of saying, “I’m just not good at this,” they ask, “What can I do to improve?”
This shift in thinking changes everything. It pushes you to take on challenges, keep learning, and persist even when things get tough.
2) Take action before you feel ready
Most people wait until they feel confident before they take the next step. But high achievers know that action comes first—confidence follows.
Psychologists call this the “confidence-competence loop.” The more you do something, the better you get. And the better you get, the more confident you feel.
If you wait until you feel 100% ready, you’ll be waiting forever. High achievers understand that progress comes from doing, even when they’re unsure or uncomfortable.
They apply for jobs before they meet every requirement, start businesses before they have all the answers, and take risks knowing that growth happens outside their comfort zone.
3) Focus on systems, not just goals
For the longest time, I believed success was all about setting big goals. But the more I learned about high achievers, the more I realized they don’t just focus on goals—they focus on the systems that get them there.
James Clear, author of “Atomic Habits”, explains that goals give you direction, but systems create consistent progress.
A goal might be to write a book, but the system is writing 500 words every day. A goal might be to get in shape, but the system is showing up at the gym four times a week.
High achievers don’t just dream about what they want—they build daily habits and routines that make success inevitable. Instead of obsessing over the finish line, they fall in love with the process.
4) Build mental toughness through resilience
High achievers aren’t just talented or hardworking—they’re mentally tough. They know that setbacks, criticism, and failure are inevitable, but they don’t let those things break them.
Instead, they use adversity to grow stronger.
Resilience is the key to staying focused when things get tough. It’s what allows people to keep going when others give up.
I dive deep into this in my book, “The Art of Resilience: A Practical Guide to Developing Mental Toughness”, where I share practical strategies for developing the kind of mindset that helps you push through challenges and come out stronger on the other side.
The truth is, success isn’t about avoiding difficulties—it’s about learning how to navigate them. High achievers don’t see obstacles as roadblocks; they see them as opportunities to build resilience and sharpen their mental edge.
5) Take more breaks to get more done
It sounds counterintuitive, but high achievers know that pushing yourself non-stop isn’t the key to success—strategic rest is.
Psychology shows that our brains can only focus intensely for so long before performance starts to decline. The most productive people don’t just work harder; they work smarter by building regular breaks into their day.
The “Pomodoro Technique“, for example, encourages working in focused sprints followed by short breaks.
Studies also show that stepping away from a task—whether it’s a quick walk or a moment of mindfulness—helps spark creativity and improve problem-solving.
Instead of glorifying burnout, high achievers understand that rest isn’t a weakness—it’s a tool for sustained performance. By recharging regularly, they stay sharp, focused, and ready to tackle their biggest challenges.
6) Seek discomfort on purpose
Most people avoid discomfort whenever possible. High achievers do the opposite—they deliberately put themselves in uncomfortable situations because they know that’s where growth happens.
Psychologists call this “deliberate practice.” It’s the idea that real improvement comes from pushing beyond your current abilities, not just repeating what you’re already good at.
This is why elite athletes train at the edge of their capacity and why successful entrepreneurs take on challenges that force them to learn new skills.
Stepping into discomfort—whether it’s public speaking, learning a difficult skill, or having tough conversations—rewires your brain to handle challenges more effectively.
Over time, what once felt impossible becomes second nature, and that’s how high achievers keep leveling up.
7) Say “no” more often
For a long time, I thought success meant saying “yes” to every opportunity. More projects, more commitments, more connections.
But the more I studied high achievers, the more I realized that what they don’t do is just as important as what they do.
Steve Jobs once said, “Focusing is about saying no.” High achievers guard their time fiercely.
They know that every “yes” to something unimportant is a “no” to something that truly matters.
Psychologists call this “opportunity cost”—the idea that spending energy on low-value tasks takes away from high-impact work.
Learning to say “no” isn’t about being difficult; it’s about protecting your time, energy, and focus so you can channel them into what moves the needle forward.
8) Surround yourself with the right people
Success isn’t just about what you do—it’s also about who you spend time with. High achievers understand that the people around them have a huge impact on their mindset, motivation, and habits.
Psychologists refer to this as “social contagion”—the idea that behaviors, attitudes, and even levels of ambition are contagious.
If you surround yourself with driven, positive, and growth-oriented people, you’re more likely to adopt those traits yourself.
This doesn’t mean cutting off everyone who isn’t wildly successful. But it does mean being intentional about who influences you the most.
High achievers seek out mentors, peers, and communities that challenge them to grow and push them to be better every day.
High achievers aren’t born with some secret advantage—their success comes from the habits they build every day.
The good news? Any of us can develop these same habits and transform the way we approach challenges, setbacks, and opportunities.
One of the biggest keys to lasting success is resilience—the ability to stay strong, focused, and adaptable no matter what life throws at you.
I dive deep into this in my book, “The Art of Resilience: A Practical Guide to Developing Mental Toughness”, where I share practical strategies to help you build the mental toughness needed to push through obstacles and achieve your biggest goals.
At the end of the day, success isn’t about luck or talent—it’s about mindset and daily action. Start small, stay consistent, and watch how these habits change your life.
