If I were trying to sabotage someone’s success, I’d focus on subtle yet effective ways to derail them. Here are ten methods:

1. Feed Them Self-Doubt – Whisper constant negative thoughts, making them question their abilities and worth until they hesitate to take action.
2. Encourage Procrastination – Make them feel like they have plenty of time, so they keep putting off important tasks until they’re overwhelmed or miss opportunities.
3. Distract Them With Trivial Pursuits – Keep them addicted to social media, TV, or meaningless debates that waste time and drain their focus.
4. Create a Fear of Failure – Make them so afraid of making mistakes that they never take risks or step outside their comfort zone.
5. Surround Them With Negative Influences – Ensure they spend time with people who mock their ambitions, doubt them, or encourage bad habits.
6. Make Them Addicted to Comfort – Let them enjoy just enough success or stability to avoid pushing themselves to the next level.
7. Drain Their Energy – Encourage poor habits like lack of sleep, bad nutrition, and inconsistent exercise so they never have the physical and mental energy to succeed.
8. Disrupt Their Focus – Fill their mind with worry, overthinking, and unnecessary drama so they struggle to stay committed to their goals.
9. Convince Them They Need More Information Before Acting – Keep them in perpetual “research mode,” so they never start executing their plans.
10. Make Them Seek Validation – Get them addicted to praise and external approval, making them afraid to take actions that might be unpopular but necessary for success.

Success requires discipline, clarity, and resilience—so if someone wanted to counteract these forces, they’d need to stay focused, take action despite fear, and consistently refine their habits. Which of these feels like the biggest challenge for you right now?

I then asked it: Give me your single best piece of advice in order to avoid falling victim to your traps.

Here is what I got.

Take disciplined action every single day, no matter how you feel.

Motivation is fleeting. Feelings are unreliable. But disciplined action—executed consistently—creates unstoppable momentum.

If you commit to taking action daily, even when you’re tired, doubtful, or unmotivated, you become immune to self-sabotage.

Success isn’t about intensity; it’s about consistency. Win the day. Then do it again tomorrow.