The secret to success isn’t working harder. Hard work is part of the success equation. But, if it were the true secret to success, every farmer, every waiter, everyone who works hard at their job would be successful.

The secret to success isn’t working smarter, either. Doing more in less time is great for your productivity, but it doesn’t necessarily leads you to the results you want.

So what’s the secret to success? What are successful people doing to reach those heights?

The real secret to success is doing the things other people won’t.

Because they’re boring. Because they’re uncomfortable. Because they’re scary.

Let me tell you a story…

Success Is Outside Your Comfort Zone

When I first started my old beauty blog all the way back in 2018, I dreamed of becoming the new Michelle Phan. 

Back then, I thought success was only a matter of hard work. So, I worked 12 hours a day to create the most detailed product reviews and in-depth skincare posts that solved the problems my readers had. The blog grew… at a snail’s pace – while I was burning out big time.

I knew something had to change, so I decided to work smarter. I cut back on the number of weekly articles and focused my efforts on the topics with the highest potential to go viral and the affiliate products I knew would sell better. This worked better. I was attracting new readers faster, but I was still pretty unknown. Why wasn’t all my hard AND smart work paying off?

I wasn’t doing videos, for starters. Or spending much time promoting my posts on social media. Or telling everyone I met about my blog. That would have meant putting myself out there in a more vulnerable way. Open myself up to criticism. Learn new skills and feel like a failure for not mastering them fast enough.

You know, all the things it takes to succeed.

Deep down you know it. If you could be successful doing everything you do now, you would have already reached your goals. If they haven’t happened yet, it’s time to step out of your comfort zone and do that thing (or two) that scare you.

Related: How To Build The Confidence To Follow Your Dreams

The Road To Success Is Uncomfortable

In a perfect world, the mere thought of reaching 6+ figures and creating a freedom lifestyle would excite you so much, you’d be running out of your comfort zone with a huge smile on your face.

This isn’t a perfect world. In real life, the idea of making 6+ figures (or whatever else you dream of doing) excites you and scares you at the same time.

• What will my friends say if I give this a go and fail?
• What if I don’t have what it takes to make it happen?
• What if I don’t know how to handle so much money and clients and lose it all?
• What if people realise I’m not good enough and get exposed as a fraud?
• What if I lose my job, my house, my friends, and die alone under a bridge?

Fear and self-doubt are enough to stop most people in their tracks and keep them stuck in their comfort zone. Only a few of us dare venture out… just a little bit. You try something new as long as it’s fun. The second it gets too hard, you quit.

The problem with this picture? Success isn’t all fun and games.

I do believe you attract success faster when you do what you love. BUT, if you want to make big bucks doing what you love, you need to do the things that make you uncomfortable. Like master selling. Getting comfortable on video. Say yes to public speaking engagements.

The thing that propels you to success is the thing that’s the hardest, most uncomfortable, least fun to do.

Related: How To Overcome Self-Doubt And Do That Thing You’ve Always Wanted To Do

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The Secret To Success Is Doing What Others Aren’t Willing To Do

Ever wondered why so few people make it to the top? The world’s full of entrepreneurs But only 1% of them make it to 6-figures and beyond. What sets these success stories apart?

They kept going even when it wasn’t fun anymore. While everyone is looking for the silver bullet or magic potion that will make them an overnight success, the truly successful people do the work no one else wants to do.

• Writer Anthony Trollop woke up at 5:30 every morning so he could write for three hours before leaving for work (he wrote 47 novels and 16 non-fiction books this way!)
• KFC founder Colonel Sanders was rejected 1009 times (not a typo!) before finding a taker for his fried chicken recipe.
• Olympic gold medal winner Jim Montgomery gave up spending time with his friends, so he could be in the pool practicing every day.

These people loved what they did, but it wasn’t always fun. They had to make sacrifices and do the things no one else was willing to do to achieve their goals. Are you willing to do the same?

You Don’t Have To Be The Best, You Just Have To Do The Work

Good news: you don’t have to be the best in the world at what you do. You just have to be in the game and play it.

Few people persist past the point it’s not fun anymore. You know what that means? The higher you climb, the less competition you have.

Don’t be scared that someone else will steal your idea or be better than you. Even if they wanted to, as soon as they understand what’s involved, they’ll give up. Most people don’t want to ever push past their comfort zone. These people are NOT your competition.

Be scared of not doing the thing you don’t want to do. That’s the thing that’ll make the biggest difference in your career and life. The thing that’ll help you achieve 6+ figures. If you’re not willing to do that, your dreams will stay just that… dreams.

There you have, it the real secret to success. What are you going to do with it now?

Wrapping It Up

The secret to success is doing what other people are not willing to do it. It’s persevering when it’s not fun anymore. It’s doing the thing that make you uncomfortable. Will you do it or will you keep playing small?

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