The ten toxic beliefs that hold people back are excuses your brain invents to protect you from effort: “someone already did it,” “it is too late,” “I am not original,” and seven more. Each one has a simple fix, and none needs talent you do not already have.
Most of the time, our brain is the culprit that hinders our growth. We are good at finding reasons not to try, and it is the oldest self-preservation trick there is. Some of these beliefs will cost you years, and for pretty dumb reasons too.
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The 10 toxic beliefs and the fix for each
| Toxic belief | The fix |
|---|---|
| Somebody has thought of this before | Ideas are cheap; execution is the product |
| You are not original enough | Improve yourself in small steps |
| It is too late for me now | Think in 10-year spans |
| I do not have the connections | Offer value first |
| Others can do it better | Compare to your own goal |
| I cannot work hard enough | Use the 80/20 rule |
| Procrastination is my middle name | Start with the smallest step |
| I am happy with how things are | Check that it is honest |
| Your ego is in the way | Admit what you want |
| You forget how far you have come | Look back to move forward |
1. Somebody has thought of this before
You hear it constantly: “Nah, it is pointless, that guy has done it already.”
Aluxers, ideas alone are useless. An idea is worth $1 million after it has made $1 million. Car makers did not stop building electric vehicles because Tesla got there first. Almost every established car brand now sells EVs. Even we are not the only channel talking about this stuff, and we were neither the first nor will we be the last.
The same goes for AI tools: when everyone can generate an average version of anything in seconds, the only edge left is your execution and taste.
2. You are not original enough
Many people quit because they think they cannot come up with something groundbreaking. Here is a better thought: you do not have to change the world, only yourself, and the world follows. Changing yourself is a lot easier.
Small, meaningful improvements in the right direction over a long period are all you need. You do not have to reinvent the wheel, and creativity tends to arrive on the way.
To boost it, check out 15 Ways to Boost Your Creativity.
3. It is too late for me now
A line often attributed to Bill Gates says people overestimate what they can do in a year and underestimate what they can do in ten. Think about what you were doing ten years ago, and how much has changed since.
Play Osmos, a game in which you are a single cell eating smaller cells to grow, and bigger ones reset you if you touch them. At first you are a blip and the task looks impossible. Once momentum builds, it gets easier. It does not matter when you start, only how long you are willing to go.
4. I do not have the connections
A good network matters, but you may know nobody. Think of an online game. When you land a great teammate, you keep playing with them, because they made your job easier, communicated well and showed up where they were supposed to be. They gave you value.
That is what you need to do in your own game. Provide value and the teammates will come.
5. Others can do it better
Social media, with its polished and manufactured content, makes this feel truer than ever. Yes, some people are better prepared than you. You are also better prepared than others. There is enough pie for everyone.
When people want to lose weight, they look at elite athletes and think “of course they can, they have a gym, a coach and a nutritionist.” But athletes train to be as fast and strong as humanly possible. You train so your favourite shirt fits better. Align your goals with reality and your mindset changes: knowing others do it better becomes an advantage, because you can learn from them.
If you like this idea, you will love our Goal Mastery course, which took more than a year and a half to build and is crafted for the Aluxer.
Go to goalsbyalux.com and enroll now.
6. I cannot work hard enough
The difference between a 40-hour week and a 60-hour week is that you are a lot more tired after the second one, and the output is pretty much the same.
The 10,000-hour rule, popularised by Malcolm Gladwell, says mastery takes about 10,000 hours. Getting decent takes around 30 hours: an hour a day for a month. In a month, from zero, you can become a decent coder, video editor or website builder, if you apply the Pareto Principle ruthlessly.
It takes about 20% of the effort to get 80% of the result. Learn 20% of the guitar chords and you can play about 80% of the songs.
7. Procrastination is my middle name
We dedicate a chapter to this in our Goal Mastery course. People procrastinate because short-term pleasure often beats long-term benefit. It is far easier to watch another episode than to take out the trash.
The workarounds all trick your brain into starting. If you do not want to brush your teeth, brush one tooth. It takes seconds and you are already standing there with a toothbrush, so you might as well finish. To send that email, write only the subject line.
8. I am happy with how things are
We are not here to question your happiness, but check whether you are telling yourself you are happy because admitting otherwise would feel uncomfortable. Wanting more is not weakness or a sign of past failure. It is self-awareness.
The first step to achieving anything is admitting you want it.
9. Your ego is in your way
“I could have done that too, I just did not care enough.” In reality you probably could have. But admitting it feels weak, so the ego goes defensive.
Making peace with your ego is among the hardest things you can do and takes introspection. Too many times we let it block the path.
10. You forget how far you have come
Looking at your potential can feel like staring up a mountain you have not started. In reality you have been climbing since the day you were born. Everything you did led to this moment.
You are not starting now, you are picking up the pace. Look back from time to time to see how far you have climbed. You know better what you want and what makes you feel accomplished, so keep climbing.
Keep reading
- 15 mindset shifts that will change your life: the positive flip side of these ten beliefs.
- 15 ways to invest in yourself: practical places to put the effort.
- 15 little habits to have a better day: tiny starts, like the one-tooth trick.
Question: Tell us which of these beliefs had the biggest impact on your life in the comments.
FAQ
What are toxic beliefs?
They are thoughts that sound reasonable but stop you from acting, such as ‘it is too late’ or ‘someone already did it’. They protect you from effort and failure, and cost you progress.
How do I stop procrastinating?
Shrink the first step until it is almost silly: write one subject line, brush one tooth. Starting is the hard part, and momentum usually carries you through the rest.
Is the 10,000-hour rule true?
It is a popular idea, not a law. You do not need 10,000 hours to be decent; about 30 focused hours is enough to be competent at many skills, especially if you focus on the 20% that gives 80% of the results.
Is it too late to start something new?
Rarely. What matters is how long you keep going, not when you begin. Most of what you can do in ten years is invisible in the first year.
How do I build a network from zero?
Provide value first. People keep working with those who make their life easier, so help, share and deliver, and the network follows.
Last updated: October 2026.
