For the longest time, I believed that if smart people worked hard and grew up in a reasonably nurturing environment, success would come eventually.

I looked at other people and thought, “Wow, that person’s going to go on to do great things.”

But as I grew older, I realized that’s not necessarily the case. I then realized that there are a lot of factors when it comes to success, whether it means having a fulfilling career, having great relationships, or staying healthy. Yes, hard work and a little smarts are part of it, and so is work ethic. But there’s more at play than just these two factors.

Here are five reasons why you might not be finding success even if you’re hardworking (and reasonably intelligent).

1. You Don’t Like Change

Being in the same environment for a long time makes it hard to adapt to something new and, more often than not, the key to one’s success lies in trying and adapting to something new. The good news is that change presents a chance for new opportunities and innovation.

Instead of resisting changes, see how you can make the best of them. Maybe you can cater to a growing businesses need or see a different perspective. Be open to new concepts and curious about the world around you.

2. You’re Not Willing to Take Risks

Smart people often choose the safe route. They might follow the same path as their peers or choose a career because it’s considered acceptable by their peers.

While this guarantees a degree of security, it can be mundane. I hear so often from smart people that they find their jobs unfulfilling and that they want to do something else, but are afraid to do so.

If you’re thinking about branching out into unfamiliar territory, consider what your life will be like decades from now if you opt not to pursue something. Will you regret it, or will you be happy with your decision?

3. You Don’t Truly Believe in Yourself

Surprisingly, the hardest working smart people can underestimate their own abilities. They are their own worst critic, causing them to believe that they can’t accomplish as much as they can.

Smart people have high standards when it comes to their work. Whenever they work on a project, they tend to scrutinize and second-guess the final product. They tend to overanlyze and redo way more than needed.

This seems like a good thing on the surface, but it’s often more debilitating than helpful. Perfectionism can hinder people from progressing forward in their goals or starting on anything in the first place. My best advice for overcoming the dreaded imposer syndrome and elevating to a place of self belief is to rid yourself of the need to aspire to perfection. You will never reach it; perfection is an illusion. All it will do is prevent you from obtaining the goals you truly want to reach. So, toss perfectionism out the window and be confident in what you bring to the table now and where you are going in the future.

4. You Chase Whatever Is Exciting at the Moment

One thing I hear often from high achievers is that they hate wasting time. Smart people are all too aware of the value of their time, as time and effort spent on one thing means that they could potentially be missing out on something else.

While this is a strong attribute, it also means chasing the next big thing and not following through. Starting out in any field or endeavor is tough, and getting through the initial obstacles requires patience.

Focusing effort on one goal yields much better results in the long run than going after one thing, getting bored, and then going after something new.

5. You Don’t Reach Out to New People

It’s easy to stick to people you’ve known for a long time. You know each other’s histories and can laugh at inside jokes together. The problem with old friends, though, is that the same ideas are recycled over and over again, and you don’t get to learn new perspectives outside of your bubble.

It can be tough to reach out at first to new people, but starting small can help. Aim for a low goal initially, such as introducing yourself to one person a week.

What will you do today to get closer to your success? What are some things that have been holding you back? Drop me a comment below to let me know!