The 10 Common Causes Of Failure In Life And How To Overcome Them

Friend, never ever think failure is the opposite of success. It is not! As Dr. Joyce Brothers said: “The person interested in success has to learn to view failure as a healthy, inevitable part of the process of getting to the top.”

Most people do not fail because they lack intelligence. They fail because of habits that quietly destroy them.

Here I unpack the 10 most common causes of failure in life.

1. LACK OF PURPOSE/DRIFTING THROUGH LIFE

Most people who fail have no clear direction for their lives. Since they have no goals to aim at, they drift on the currents of life. They become a dead leaf following the direction of every wind that blows. But life must not be lived that way.

We must live a purpose-driven life. Oprah Winfrey put it succinctly: “There is no greater gift than to honour your life’s calling. It’s why you were born. And how you become most truly alive.”

It is important to write down what exactly you want out of life. Establish a clear vision. This becomes the compass for your life. You know where you are and where you want to be.

Let your core values and beliefs guide you. This will help you focus on what matters most. It keeps you away from distractions so you can spend your energy on productive activities. As Lewis Carroll put it: “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.” Don’t arrive at a destination you never planned for.

2. PROCRASTINATION – THE SILENT KILLER

This is the bad habit of putting off what should be done now. We postpone what can be done today to tomorrow.

People procrastinate for various reasons. Often, they cannot figure out the first step. They are afraid to start because they may make costly mistakes. They lack motivation. They think they don’t have what it takes to succeed. So they allow their unique gifts to lie dormant.

Most people wait for perfect conditions to act. This hardly happens, and they end up with poor results.

Our dreams will remain mere dreams if we don’t act on them. The cure for procrastination is: “Do it now.” No excuses. As Nido Qubein said: “You may have the loftiest goals, the highest ideals, the noblest dreams, but remember this, nothing works unless you do.”

Apply the 2-minute rule. Small daily actions over time will give you stunning results. Small actions daily beat big intentions later. Remember: “Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.” -Pablo Picasso.

3. FEAR OF FAILURE AND FEAR OF WHAT PEOPLE WILL SAY

Most people fail because they are so afraid to fail, they stay stuck. They never try new things.

There is no person, dead or alive who did not fail at something. They failed multiple times before they triumphed.

When you fail, learn the lessons and move on. You will become a failure only if you remain in your comfort zone.

Most people never try because they don’t know what people will think. “You don’t have what it takes. You can’t make it. Failure is written in your destiny.” These negative thoughts have a paralysing effect.

You have the power to change all that. Rebrand failure as feedback. Failure is an opportunity to restart, change your strategy, and try again. When you fail, you are one step closer to success. Indeed, failure breeds success.

If you want success, act in spite of fear. When you courageously step into your fear, fear flees. And it is liberating.

Don’t let the opinions of people stop you from going after what you want. Remember, people who matter don’t judge, and people who judge don’t matter. As Suzy Kassem said: “Fear kills more dreams than failure ever will.”

NEGATIVE ASSOCIATIONS AND WRONG COMPANY

Some people fail, not because they lack intelligence, but because they surround themselves with people who have no vision – people who gossip, complain, drain you, and pull you down. Their negativity can spell doom!

You need to associate with the right people. Surround yourself with successful people. Find mentors, coaches, builders, and doers. Their success habits will rub off on you.

Choose your circle wisely. As Dan Pena said: “Show me your friends and I will show you your future.”

5.LACK OF SELF-DISCIPLINE
The lack of self-discipline is a major cause of failure. Even if you are blessed with talent, skill, and resources, you could still face failure, underachievement, missed opportunities, and frustration if you lack discipline.

Self-discipline is the key to personal greatness. You do what is good, not what feels good. It is the magic quality that enables you to maximise your resources effectively and efficiently.

As Elbert Hubbard said: “Self-discipline is the ability to do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.” There are people who achieved phenomenal results not because of intelligence, but because of self-discipline. It opens doors to limitless possibilities.

Master your mornings. Create routines. Do the hard things first.

Self-discipline empowers you to channel your energy into what matters most and resist the temptation to make excuses.

The great Abraham Lincoln said: “Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.”

6. GIVING UP TOO SOON – LACK OF PERSISTENCE

Most people abandon their dreams when they encounter obstacles. They quit too soon.

What they don’t know is this: the people who have made it in life also faced challenges, but succeeded because they refused to be discouraged by their defeats. Often, setbacks are a setup for a comeback. As long as one does not quit, success becomes inevitable.

You can develop staying power. Focus on your dream. Understand that success is usually one more attempt after failure. As Thomas Edison said: “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”

EXCUSES AND BLAME GAME
When we make excuses and indulge in the blame game , we set ourselves up for failure. It is unfortunate when people blame external factors such as government, politicians, the economy, the weather, or even parents and relatives for their situation.

Making excuses and blaming others will only result in failure. It will stop you from taking constructive action.

You must stop the blame game. Successful people don’t make excuses or blame others when they fail. Instead, they take personal responsibility, learn from their mistakes, and make the necessary changes to improve the situation.

Successful people focus on solutions. They shift from who is at fault to what needs to be done to fix the problem. As Benjamin Franklin once noted, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”

8. LACK OF CONTINUOUS LEARNING
It is said that if we stop learning, we start dying. How true!

People stop learning because they think they already know enough. They refuse to read, learn new skills, or listen to advice.

In this fast-paced world, we must keep learning to stay abreast with current trends. Ask yourself: “How can I make this better? How can I improve this product or service? What changes must I make to become better every single day?”

Become a lifelong learner. Read success-nurturing books. Read 30 minutes a day. Learn one new skill every quarter. Aim to become an expert in your craft.

Chuck Gallozzi’s words resonate: “We have an innate desire to endlessly learn, grow, and develop. We want to become more than what we already are. Once we yield to this inclination for continuous and never-ending improvement, we lead a life of endless accomplishments and satisfaction.”

9. POOR MONEY HABITS
Some people make money, but their poor money habits make them lose everything. They want to look gorgeous before others. They spend to impress.

They don’t save, nor do they invest to make money grow. They lack financial education.

How to change: Spend less than you earn. Improve your money management skills.

Save first. Invest in assets. Make money work for you while you sleep. As Warrin Buffett advises: “Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.”

10. NO FAITH/NO SPIRITUAL ANCHOR
The lack of faith or a spiritual anchor can make us vulnerable to setbacks. A single failure can crush the spirit. Without faith, giving up becomes an easy option.

How to change: Build your spiritual life. Let your values be grounded in God’s Word. Pray for guidance in all you do. Meditate regularly. Keep your values and never compromise them, no matter what adversity you face. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said: “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

CONCLUSION & CALL TO ACTION
If there is anything to remember in this article, it must be this: “Failure is not final unless you quit.”

Challenge to Readers: Pick one cause of failure and work on it for 30 days to change and improve your life.

Golden Quotes From The Author

1. “When you stop learning, you start failing.”
2. “Persist, and success becomes inevitable.”
3. “Failure is only a detour, never the destination. Giving up must not be an option.”
4. “A commitment to lifelong learning leads to lasting achievement.”
5. “Whatever you want in life requires an investment of your time.”

Yours in inspiration,
Abundant Robert K. AWOLUGUTU
Writer and Author, Golden Sunrise