In January, Forbes ran an article by Eric Jackson entitled "The Seven Habits of Spectatularly Unsuccessful Executives." In that same vein, here is something for everyone, executive or not.
WARNING! If you want to have a fantastic life, never engage yourself in these 7 deadly habits that incompetent people do.
NUMBER 1 – They Think, Say, and Do Negative Things
They see problems in EVERY opportunity.
They complain that the sun is too hot. They curse the rain for ruining their plans for the day. They blame the wind for ruining their hair. They think that everyone is against them. They see the problems but never the solutions. Every little bit of difficulty is exaggerated to the point of tragedy. They regard failures as catastrophes. They become discouraged easily instead of learning from their mistakes. They never seem to move forward because they’re always afraid to come out of their comfort zones.
NUMBER 2 – They Act Before They Think
They move based on instinct or impulse. If they see something they like, they buy it at once without any second thought. Then they see something better. They regret and curse for not being able to take advantage of the bargain. Then they spend and spend again until nothing’s left. They don’t think about the future. What they’re after is the pleasure they will experience at present. They don’t think about the consequences.
NUMBER 3 – They Talk Much More Than They Listen
They want to be the star of the show. So they always engage in talks that would make them heroes, even to the point of lying. Often times they are not aware that what they’re saying is not sensible anymore. When other people advise them, they close their ears because they’re too proud to admit their mistakes. In their minds they’re always correct. They reject suggestions because that will make them feel inferior.
NUMBER 4 – They Give Up Easily
Successful people treat failures as stepping-stones to success. Incompetent ones call it quits upon recognizing the first signs of failure. At first, they may be excited to start an endeavor. But then they lose interest fairly quickly, especially when they encounter errors. Then they go and search for a new one. Same story and same results. Incompetent people don’t have the persistence to go on and fulfill their dreams.
NUMBER 5 – They Try to Bring Others Down To Their Level
Incompetent people envy other successful individuals. Instead of working hard to be like them, these incompetent ones spread rumors and try every dirty trick to bring them down. They could’ve asked these successful ones nicely. But no, they’re too proud. They don’t want to ask for advice. Moreover, they’re too negative to accomplish anything.
NUMBER 6 – They Waste Their Time
They don’t know what to do next. They may just be content on eating, getting drunk, watching TV, or worse, staring at the blank wall with no thoughts whatsoever to improve their lives. It’s perfectly fine to enjoy once in a while. But time should be managed efficiently in order to succeed. There should be a proper balance between work and pleasure.
NUMBER 7 – They Take the Easy Way Out
If there are two roads to choose from, incompetent people would choose the wider road with less rewards than the narrower road with much better rewards at the end. They don’t want any suffering or hardship. They want a good life. What these people don’t know is that what you reap is what you sow. Efforts and action will not go unnoticed. If only they would be willing to sacrifice a little, they would be much better off. Successful people made it through trials and errors. They never give up. They are willing to do everything necessary to achieve what they aspire for in life.
It’s possible for people with these characteristics to turn things around! All it takes is the willingness to see that the behavior is injuring them in some way. Once their eyes are opened to it, life can truly be blissful. Coaching can help anyone break these bad habits