18 Things The Most Incredibly Successful People Don’t Ever Do

Success is a relative term, and what constitutes “incredible success” will vary from person to person. However, there are certain habits and behaviors that are common among highly successful people. Here are some things that the most incredibly successful people never do:

They never settle for mediocrity.

Successful people are always striving for excellence and never settle for anything less than their best.

They never give up easily.

Successful people are persistent and never give up easily when faced with challenges or setbacks.

They never fear failure.

Successful people understand that failure is a natural part of the learning and growth process, and they never let fear of failure hold them back.

They never focus on their weaknesses.

Successful people understand the importance of developing their strengths and never waste time trying to fix their weaknesses.

They never let fear of the unknown hold them back.

Successful people are willing to take risks and embrace the unknown, knowing that it’s often where the greatest opportunities lie.

They never let setbacks define them.

Successful people see setbacks as temporary and use them as opportunities to learn and grow.

They never compare themselves to others.

Successful people focus on their own goals and progress, and never waste time comparing themselves to others.

They never let perfectionism hold them back.

Successful people understand that perfection is unattainable and never let the pursuit of perfection hold them back from taking action.

They never let self-doubt hold them back.

Successful people believe in themselves and their abilities, and never let self-doubt hold them back from pursuing their dreams.

They never let fear of change hold them back.

Successful people are adaptable and embrace change, knowing that it’s often where the greatest opportunities lie.

They never let fear of the unknown hold them back.

Successful people embrace the unknown and see it as an opportunity for growth and learning.

They never let fear of rejection hold them back.

Successful people understand that rejection is a natural part of life and never let it hold them back from pursuing their goals.

They never let fear of failure hold them back.

Successful people understand that failure is a natural part of the learning and growth process, and they never let fear of failure hold them back.

They never let fear of rejection hold them back.

Successful people understand that rejection is a natural part of life and never let it hold them back from pursuing their goals.

They never waste time on things that don’t matter.

Successful people are focused and efficient with their time, and they never waste it on tasks or activities that don’t align with their goals.

They never procrastinate.

Successful people understand the importance of taking action and never put things off until the last minute.

They never make excuses.

Successful people take responsibility for their actions and never make excuses for their failures or shortcomings.

They never surround themselves with negative people.

Successful people know the importance of a positive mindset and never surround themselves with people who drain their energy or bring them down.

By avoiding these negative habits and behaviors, successful people are able to focus on their goals and consistently achieve incredible levels of success.

Who’s the Coach?

I’m Chris Dessi.

Tech entrepreneur. Author. Talking head.
But before any of that—I’m a builder.

I’ve spent the last 20+ years helping companies grow:
From dot-com chaos to SaaS scale-ups to AI-powered everything.
I’ve sold software across continents. Closed $32M in deals using AI.
Built and exited businesses. Bombed a few too. All of it made me sharper.

Today, I run Torque AI, a marketing automation platform built for the 99%.
Small business owners. Solopreneurs. Operators with too much to do and not enough support.
We give them AI superpowers—without the hype, the jargon, or the BS.

I’m also the founder of AI Summit NYC, where real business owners come to learn how to actually use AI to drive revenue.

When I’m not building, I’m writing books, speaking on national TV, and coaching execs through reinvention—with a baseball bat in one hand and a meditation app in the other.

I believe reinvention is our greatest asset.
I believe AI isn’t the threat—it’s the test.
And I believe if you’re not adapting, you’re eroding.

Let’s build something that matters.

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