12 Behaviors That Successful People Would Simply Never Indulge In

Those who taste success steer clear of these behaviors.

A man with a beard and salt-and-pepper hair stands outdoors, leaning against a wall. He is wearing a blue blazer over a light blue shirt and is looking to the side, with buildings blurred in the background.

If you’ve ever wondered what the difference is between successful people and unsuccessful ones, a lot of it comes down to behavior. The actions that follow are those that truly successful people would never indulge in, as they would only be detrimental to their endeavors.

1. Potentially detrimental or self-sabotaging actions.

Three men are sitting at a bar, raising their glasses for a cheers. They are dressed casually and appear to be enjoying their time together. There is a wooden bar counter and some background patrons blurred out.

If they know that they have an important meeting early in the morning, they aren’t going out for drinks with their friends the night before. Instead, they’ll get everything in order ahead of time and ensure that they get a good night’s sleep so they’re well-rested and focused for the meeting.

2. Overestimating themselves.

A woman with shoulder-length dark hair smiles and points both thumbs at herself in a playful manner. She is wearing a light gray coat over a blue top and stands in front of a blurred background featuring glass and neutral-colored structures.

There are few things as detrimental to a person’s success as hubris. Many people have gone into situations thinking that they’re far more skilled than they are, only for them to learn the painful lesson that they are in fact, not. Successful people know their limitations, work on them, and delegate to others.

3. Underestimating those around them.

Two women sit at a table covered with notebooks, coffee cups, pens, and a potted plant. One woman, in a red polka dot blouse, points at the other woman's notebook. The other woman, in a striped shirt, looks down, appearing to study or read.

Similarly to the previous point, underestimating others can lead to personal downfall. For example, some people have shot themselves in the proverbial foot by trash-talking colleagues or business partners in another language within earshot, only to discover later that those colleagues are fluent in the tongue they had been speaking.

4. Not keeping track of important dates.

A person holding a pen is looking at an open planner filled with colorful sticky notes and handwritten entries for the 28th and 29th of a month. The notes list various tasks and activities like meetings, yoga classes, and project deadlines.

Every successful person you know has some sort of calendar or planning system, whether it’s an app or a wall calendar. They keep track of every important date and deadline so they’re always on target, and never miss (or are late showing up for) any important interactions with others.

5. Self-pity.

A person with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a denim shirt over a striped top and black pants, sits on a gray couch holding a smartphone. They gaze thoughtfully into the distance with a serious expression. The background is blurred with a hint of green wall.

No successful individual ever spent a great deal of time feeling sorry for themselves. Bad things happen to everyone, but wallowing about them rather than building resilience doesn’t help anything. Successful folks will feel difficult emotions in the moment, then move forward with life and keep on keeping on.

6. Blaming others for their own mistakes.

A young woman with long brown hair, wearing a light green turtleneck, looks surprised and points directly at the camera. She stands in a well-lit room with a brick wall and green plant visible in the background.

If they mess up on something, they admit where they went wrong and analyze how they could have done better. By doing so, they’re better prepared in case that kind of thing happens again in the future. Even if someone else’s screw-up contributed to the situation, they’ll take responsibility for the outcome.

7. Assuming that their expertise means there’s nothing left for them to learn.

A person with wavy, light brown hair is wearing round glasses, a purple scarf, and a brown coat. They are tilting their head slightly and looking forward, holding the glasses with one hand. The background is blurred with autumn colors.

Whereas some people will proudly proclaim that they’ve forgotten more than most others will ever know, successful individuals acknowledge that there’s always something new to learn. As a result, they’ll ensure that they keep up to date with technology, programs, and new approaches in order to stay ahead of the curve.

8. Putting things off until later.

A woman with her feet on a desk is playfully holding a paper airplane. She has long brown hair, wears a green shirt and gray pants. On the desk are headphones, a notebook, a pen, a glass of water, and a potted plant in the background.

They do what needs to be done as soon as possible instead of procrastinating. This can be as simple as washing dishes as they’re used instead of letting them accumulate in the sink until they’re a real problem to contend with. Addressing issues early means they’re sorted out while they’re still manageable.

9. Prioritizing playtime over work.

A bearded man with sunglasses, wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, sits joyfully on a spring rocker shaped like a horse in a sunny playground. In the background, there's a slide and climbing structure with green trees surrounding the area.

We all enjoy our downtime, but the most successful people are those who take care of their responsibilities before the fun stuff they’d rather be enjoying. For them, duty will always take precedence over play, and the latter will be far more pleasant without the weight of obligation hanging over them.

10. Not taking risks.

A smiling child stands in front of a wooden door, wearing a blue helmet and protective gear made of bubble wrap. The child appears excited and ready for an adventure, with arm pads visible on both arms. The door behind them has decorative metalwork on the glass panels.

A common saying used by successful folks is “nothing ventured, nothing gained”. When one takes a risk, there’s always a chance that things won’t go as well as they hope. The one way to ensure failure, however, is to stay in one’s comfort zone and never take any risks at all.

11. Counting their chickens before they’ve hatched.

A person with long hair, wearing a green jacket, stands with their back to the camera, arms raised towards the sky at sunset. The city skyline and buildings are silhouetted against the colorful sky in the background.

They won’t spend money before it’s in the bank, nor make any announcements until the ink is dry on contracts. They wait until everything is a sure thing and moving forward as planned, and then take action. There’s often a slip between the cup and the lip.

12. Giving up.

A woman with long brown hair stands outdoors under a clear umbrella, wearing a yellow raincoat. She looks upwards with a slightly displeased expression as raindrops fall around her. The background is blurred, showing a natural, possibly park-like setting.

Successful people recognize that every setback is an opportunity to approach a problem from a new direction. They don’t get defeated if things don’t go as planned, but simply regroup and try again in a slightly different manner. It may take them several tries before they succeed, but they’ll never give up.