The Real Path to Success: Doing What Feels Hard

Why success isn’t about following the right strategy but about doing what feels hardest for you.

Today, I want to share an insight about doing difficult things because, honestly, it’s the only real route to success.

This wasn’t a planned post. In fact, I just came off a client call absolutely buzzing with this realisation, and I needed to share it with you straight away. When something feels alive within us, we should get it out into the world before overthinking creeps in.

What Every Successful Person Has in Common

During the conversation, we talked about well-known people who’ve made an impact - the ones we often admire from a distance. I mentioned Thomas Edison (who my brain temporarily called Ericsson!), and my client brought up someone else.

We reflected on what we saw these people do. In Edison’s case, he famously failed thousands of times before successfully inventing the light bulb. Can you imagine turning up, day after day, failing again and again, but still carrying on?

At some point, there must have been people around him saying, “Seriously, mate, it’s time to pack it in. Give it up. It’s not working.” But he didn’t.

And that’s the point.

• He did the hard thing.

• He turned up despite failure.

• He kept going despite self-doubt.

And the same pattern exists in every story of success.

• The business owner who keeps pitching ideas after endless rejection.

• The artist who pushes past creative fear to share their work.

• The leader who speaks up despite the discomfort of being seen.

What do they all have in common?

They all faced resistance - and did it anyway.

The Inner Critic & The Illusion of Comfort

Now, here’s the part that really struck me.

When we think about doing something big, bold, or challenging, there’s often resistance. A voice inside our heads that says:

• “You can’t do that.”

• “That’s not how this is done.”

• “You’ve already failed, why bother trying again?”

That voice, the inner critic, tries to keep us in the so-called ‘comfort zone’. But here’s the truth:

The comfort zone doesn’t actually exist.

It’s just thoughts - a construct of the mind. The moment we try to expand beyond it, our inner critic freaks out and throws everything it has at us: self-doubt, hesitation, procrastination, fear.

It’s predictable. It happens every time we step toward growth.

But the real truth?

What feels “uncomfortable” now will feel normal later, if we keep going.

Growth isn’t about suddenly feeling “ready” or “confident.” It’s about acting before that happens.

Lab Work vs. Field Work: You Can’t Think Your Way to Confidence

A wonderful teacher of mine, Clare Dimond, talks about lab work and field work.

Lab work is what happens in coaching sessions, in journaling, in self-reflection, where we explore ideas, understand our patterns, and gain insights.

Field work is going out into the world and doing the thing that feels hard.

Real transformation happens in the field.

• You can read about success.

• You can analyse your fears.

• You can listen to every self-help podcast under the sun.

But if you’re not taking action, you’re still in the lab.

And honestly? At some point, you just have to do the difficult thing because that’s where your expansion lives.

It’s Not About Following Their Path. It’s About Following Yours

One of the biggest mistakes we make is thinking success comes from copying what others have done.

We look at someone successful and think:

"Ah, so that’s the strategy. That’s the way to do it."

But it’s not about what they did - it’s about the fact that they did what felt hard for them.

• Your path won’t look like theirs.

• Your challenges won’t be the same.

• What feels hard for you is uniquely yours.

And that’s the work.

Success isn’t about following someone else’s formula. It’s about following what feels right for you - despite the fear that shows up alongside it.

A Simple Pause to Reset

This is where pausing can be so powerful.

I’ve been working with a lovely mentor, George Kao, who practices a simple energy reboot throughout the day. He pauses, breathes, and repeats simple words to himself. Words like peace, love, gratitude.

I do this in my own way too.

Just stopping.

Feeling the moment.

Letting discomfort be there - without running from it.

And then?

Going back to doing the hard thing anyway.

Final Thoughts: The Hard Thing is The Right Thing

Every time you push your own edges, you’ll feel resistance.

Your inner critic will try to stop you.

Fear will try to convince you it’s unsafe.

But you are not your thoughts.

And the discomfort isn’t a sign to stop. It’s a sign you’re right where you need to be., in a place of expansion and growth. Moving action by action to realise who you truly are, infinite potential.

So, here’s my challenge to you:

What’s the “hard thing” you’ve been avoiding?

That’s your next step.

Have you noticed this in your own journey? Drop me an email because I’d love to hear your thoughts.