What would you do if success was gauranteed?

Your annual pump up post.

Imagine waking up tomorrow with the absolute certainty that you cannot fail.

How would that change your decisions?

What dream would you finally pursue?

What job would you quit?

What project would you start?

Most of us stand at the edge of our comfort zone, heart racing, dreams within reach, yet held back by that familiar whisper of doubt. It’s the moments when our greatest aspirations feel just beyond our grasp, separated only by that persistent fear of failure that keeps us tethered to the safe and familiar.

I’ve been exploring the mindset of guaranteed success in moments of doubt, trying to train my brain into believing that what I want will inevitably happen one way of another. I’m writing this so that together we can unlock the doors to your biggest aspirations and examine what truly holds you back from pursuing them. Because here's the truth: while success may never be guaranteed in reality, understanding what you would do if it were reveals everything about what you should be pursuing right now.

Overcoming fear and limiting beliefs

"The only thing standing between you and your dreams is the story you keep telling yourself about why you can't achieve them."

You’re not alone in your fear of failure, just about everyone has felt that way at some point. I still feel the sensation of fear shoot from my finger tips to my heart every time I press post on an article. It’s human nature to feel this way. It means you care.

But fear is often a self fulfilling prophecy, keeping us from the exact thing that we want. Most fears are self-imposed and are often rooted in our worries about being seen, judged or losing something.

Success, whatever that looks like to you, comes to those who act despite their fears, not because their fears disappear.

Pratical steps:

• Write out all of your fears: are they rational? Which ones are likely to actually come true? What are the consequences of each fear? Do they put you in danger or do they simply make you uncomfortable?

• Bucket your list into fears and threats, focus on how to mitigate the threats and work through the fears. A threat would be losing your house by running out of money. A fear would be worrying about people judging you for building your personal brand online.

• As you do this, identify and challenge your self-imposed limitations from past experiences, social conditioning, and fear of judgment. Where are you keeping yourself small?

• What is the absolute worst case scenario? Now that you can see it, what can you do to prevent it? For example, if you want to quit your job to start your own business look at a transition plan. Go part time or pick up a casual job to support cash flow before going all in. Not everything needs to be met with a rip-the-bandaid-off approach. You can build your dream slowly and safely. The key is to start, not let fear keep you from never beginning.

• Each day practice making decisions based on your aspirations rather than fears. Ask yourself “What if?” in the positive sense. Shift your focus from limitations to possibilities.

Finding your true self

"Your passion is the compass that will guide you to your purpose."

Somehow despite our best efforts, we can wake up at 37 years old and realise we are spending every day doing something by accident. We may enjoy it, but we’re not called to it. Meanwhile our list of hopes, dreams and desires is piling up faster than the load of dirty washing.

I found myself there one year ago. In the uncertain months that followed, I started paying attention to the small moments that made me feel different, that made me feel…alive? I noticed how time seemed to disappear when I was writing. I found myself staying up late into the night and eagerly pulling out my computer every time my baby went down for a nap, not because I had to, but because I couldn’t help myself.

In 2025, what I want for all of you is to begin a journey of self discovery that gives you answers. For some it may clarify that you are exactly where you are meant to be, for others the trees in the overgrown forrest of your mind will bend to reveal a new and exciting path you can take. The only way this exercise works is to be honest, continuously edit your answers over time, ruthlessly cull and answer everything from a place of authenticity.

Practical steps:

Work through the below questions the old fashioned way, with a notepad and pen. There is so much knowledge to be found in the answers.

• Identify your core values. Whenever someone asks me where to start, I tell them this. Do this exercise quarterly. Visit my article on how to do this here.

• What did you want to be as a child? Don’t say marine biologist. Or do, but only if you mean it. Let your mind dream and wander to a time where restrictions had yet to be placed on it.

• What activities make you lose track of time? What type of conversations or ideas light you up?

• What’s on your deepest desires list? What does your perfect day look like and how does that differ from your reality? Is there one small thing you can do today to step into your dream day?

• Evaluate your energy levels when thinking about your goals. Do they energise or drain you? Does thinking about them create expansion or contraction? Are you excited to start, or do you feel resistance?

• Check for authenticity. Are these truly your goals, or someone else's expectations? Do they align with your core values? Would you pursue these even if no one ever knew about them?

Take aligned action

"The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do."

Like going to the airport without any idea where you’re going, with a bag of random things that someone else packed for you and no return date in mind, taking off on a career or personal progression plan without understanding what your goals are is pointless. Who knows where you’ll end up.

Many people confuse motion with progress. We keep ourselves busy, always moving, always checking boxes off our endless to-do lists. But at the end of each exhausting day, we feel no closer to our dreams. It’s like running on a treadmill - lots of effort, but no real forward movement.

You need to do the work standing still. The uncomfortable, gritty, revealing work. Then start moving forward with small, aligned steps. You need to show up for the new version of yourself in a small way, every single day and celebrate your progress rather than aiming for perfection.

Practical steps:

• Clarify your why and always ensure you’re working towards it. Try and distill this down to a short sentence or bullet points. If you’re a visual person, stick it up around the house. Who cares if it’s corny?

• Divide large goals into quarterly, monthly or weekly milestones so they don’t feel so gargantuas. I like to work on things at 4 levels: I set yearly aspirations and I break them down into quarterly plans, monthly goals and weekly targets that allow me to see if I am making progress.

• Identify key behaviours that support your goals and those that don’t. I talk with my husband to set up systems in our home that allow us both to get the time and space we need. For example, one morning per week we each have a “me morning” that is out of the house with no child responsibilities. I use mine to exercise and write. At night, I try to journal and have meaningful conversations with him about how we are progressing. Of course sometimes I collapse in a heap and binge Netflix.

• Share your goals with a trusted friend, partner, mentor or right here on substack; create an accountability system.

• Adjust your strategies based on what's working; set up a review system that works for you to track your progress.

Creating a life of purpose

"Purpose is not a destination, it's a daily practice of living intentionally."

The question isn't whether you can achieve your dreams - it's whether you're willing to take the first step towards them and realise that your purpose is found on the journey, not at a final destination.

Each day I decide to show up for myself in the way that aligns with what I want is a success.

Each day I don’t fall into old habits is a success.

Each day I don’t say yes to something out of fear is a success.

So in a sense success is guaranteed; it’s guaranteed to those who maintain unwavering belief in what they want and deserve and try to live in their authenticity every single day.

J x

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Art by Eric Stefanski