6 things successful people only do once

There’s a saying that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing many times and expecting different results. 

If you make a mistake or have a negative experience and you return to that same situation hoping for a different outcome, then you are doomed to failure (and misery.)

So much of the drama that people go through in their career and personal life is avoidable if they had of listened to the signs the first time around.

Not all things, mind you. Accidents and ill health, of course, cannot be avoided, but so much else can.

And yet we see people — sometimes people we’re close to  —in these emotional roundabouts and dead ends, hoping for a different outcome.

So let’s look at 6 things successful people only ever do once.

1. TRUST THE WRONG PEOPLE 

The American writer Maya Angelou once said that when someone shows you who they are believe them the first time.

It’s a great saying because it touches on what we all know to be true: sometimes we ignore our gut instincts about certain people and it can get us into hot water.

Pay attention to those you work with and who work for you.

If they add nothing to your life or your business and cause chaos and problems, don’t excuse it.

2. MISHANDLE MONEY

Becoming good at handling money through saving, investing and projecting forward is a skill that can be learned.

And we all make mistakes along the way. But smart people take money seriously and they pay attention to it.

This doesn’t mean they always get it right, but it does mean that they’re never careless with it. They never say it doesn’t matter.

3. FORGET ABOUT LONG-TERM REWARD 

On the road to success sometimes it’s easy to forget that occasionally you need to make tough decisions and go without in the short-term for the benefit of the long-term.

If you make decisions based on what will make you feel good in that moment, then you fail to look after your long-term plans.

Maybe you say ‘yes’ to a project just to keep the peace, for example, even though you know it’s not the right path.

This can really throw a spanner in the works.

4. IGNORE THEIR VALUES

All of us have an innate sense of right and wrong.

We also have boundaries as to what is acceptable behavior and what we will and will not agree to.

Successful people don’t ignore this internal value system.

They know, maybe even from making this mistake once, the high personal price that is paid when you go against your own values.

5. BADMOUTH OTHERS 

You may be in competition with someone whom you dislike, and you may even have a very good reason to dislike them.

But successful people don’t badmouth others in business.

They know it looks petty and it’s a sign of a poor character.

It also shows that rather than focusing on the work at hand, they’re focused on trashing another’s reputation.

Not a good look.

6. IGNORE THE DETAIL

It’s so important to check the fine print, analyse the deal, ask questions. A healthy skepticism is just that: healthy, and wise!

If something is too good to be true it probably is, so it’s really important not to put your head in the sand.

If you’re not strong on detail, you should surround yourself with people who are.

The bottom line:

Sometimes half the struggle of being successful is acting it.

If you pay attention to your intuition, don’t bad mouth others, are rigorous with detail, trust your instinct and surround yourself with the right people, you will be well on your way.