In my last blog, I talked about embracing hard things—how struggle, failure, and persistence shape us. But here’s the twist: Success itself can become a challenge.
Many believe that once they’ve “made it,” the hard part is over. But that’s when the real danger begins.
The Success Trap: When You Think You’re Bulletproof
Success feels great. You’ve built something and proven yourself. But it can also lull you into complacency. I’ve seen it firsthand.
Take John, an executive who built his business from scratch. Early on, he was hungry, relentless, and open to learning. Then he made it. He had a profitable company, a respected reputation, and a solid team. That’s when things started to change:
- He stopped learning. No more books, meeting with his mentors, or challenging conversations. He had all the answers.
- He ignored small problems. Turnover, financial red flags. He dismissed them as “wrong people, wrong seats,” assuming past success would carry him forward.
- He stopped taking risks. Instead of innovating, he played it safe.
- He became overconfident. He ignored his CFO, made big decisions solo, and assumed he was always right.
- He surrounded himself with “yes” people. Those who challenged him faded away. Only agreeable voices remained. They told him what he wanted to hear, not what he needed to hear.
As my Mama used to say, “He was full of himself.”
A financial downturn finally shook John awake, but by then, he’d lost top talent, faced financial struggles, and had to rebuild trust.
Staying Authentic, Humble, and Confident in Success
If you’ve achieved success, congratulations! But don’t let it make you soft. Stay sharp with these principles:
- Keep a “beginner’s mindset.” Always be a student. Ask questions, seek mentors, stay curious. Never, ever stop learning.
- Surround yourself with truth-tellers. Honest feedback is your greatest asset. The only time truth hurts is when it should.
- Step outside your comfort zone. Growth comes from challenges, not certainty.
- Measure by effort, not just outcomes. Success is about constant improvement, not just wins.
- Give credit and take responsibility. Stay humble. Acknowledge those who helped and own your mistakes.
- Remember: Success is temporary. Industries change. Life shifts. People come and go. Stay adaptable.
The Hard Things Never End
As I wrote before: Everything is hard before it’s easy. But once it’s easy, it can quickly become hard again if you’re not paying attention.
Success isn’t a destination—it’s a moving target. The key isn’t just achieving it but sustaining it. And the only way to do that is by continuing to embrace the hard things, even when you don’t have to anymore.
John learned this the hard way, but he turned it around by getting back to what made him successful in the first place: curiosity, feedback, and humility.
As we dive deeper into 2025, don’t just celebrate your success—protect it. Keep challenging yourself, keep growing, and never let success be the reason you stop doing what made you successful in the first place.
Let’s make 2025 a year of continued progress, not complacency.
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