Does the life you’re living look nothing like the one you imagined? Do you feel like there is another version of you out there, one that’s living your best life and reaching your potential?

We’ve all wanted to reinvent ourselves at some point or another, but very few of us actually do it.

Why is this?

As someone who has always been obsessed with human psychology and personal growth, I decided to study 20 people who reinvented themselves and built their dream lives from nothing.

If you know there is so much more for you out there but don’t know how to access it, this article is for you. Here are 5 things these 20 successful people did that set them apart from those who stayed stuck!e!

---

1. They Didn’t Wait For Permission

Everyone has dreams, but most people hold off from making them happen because they are waiting for the stars to align and all the dominoes to fall into place. 

It’s easy to make excuses for why now isn’t the right time. Maybe you tell yourself you’re too busy, too old, or lack the right skills.

But the truth? 

There is no perfect time to take action. 

No one is going to come along with the perfect opportunity that will magically make your dream life a reality. YOU have to do the work to make it happen. And the longer you stall, the more time you waste.

The first similarity I noticed among the people who successfully reinvented their lives was that they didn’t wait for permission to chase their dreams or let “excuses” hold them back.

For example, Colonel Sanders could have believed he was “too old” to chase a new dream. But he didn’t. Instead, he drove across the country pitching his fried chicken recipe from the trunk of his car. 

Similarly, Sara Blakely didn’t wait to become a fashion expert before launching Spanx. She figured it out as she went and built an empire thanks to her proactiveness.

If you’ve been waiting for permission to start, this is it. You don’t need more credentials, money, or confidence. Take the first step now, no matter how small it is.

2. They Rewrote Their Identity

Reinvention isn’t just about changing what you do but shifting who you believe you are. 

Many people fail because they try to change their actions while clinging to an outdated identity.

If you still see yourself as the “old you,” you’ll sabotage your progress.  Instead, you need to let go of your old beliefs and adopt new ones that the new version of you would hold.

For example, if you want to become fluent in another language but deep down believe you could never be bilingual, you never will.

However, if you start embodying the role of a bilingual person, you will gradually change your limiting beliefs and shape your new reality.

Dwayne Johnson did exactly that. In order to become a Hollywood star, he first had to let go of his old identity as a wrestler and start seeing himself as an actor long before anyone else did.

3. They Committed To The Process

Success stories make reinvention look like a single bold decision, but in reality, it’s a daily grind. 

The people who truly transform their lives don’t just chase the dream; they commit to the process, even when the results aren’t immediate.

For instance, Stan Lee spent decades in the comic book industry before Spider-Man made him a legend.

Similarly, Howard Schultz didn’t just “start Starbucks” out of the blue. He spent years refining a vision that eventually changed coffee culture worldwide.

If you’re focused only on the end goal, you’ll lose motivation and burn out when progress is slow. 

Real transformation happens in the daily grind. It happens when you show up, even when no one is watching. So, if you’re serious about reinvention, get serious about the process that will take you there.

4. They Changed Their Environment

Have you ever heard the phrase, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with”?

There is a lot of truth in this. But it’s not just about the people you spend time with. Your whole environment, from your habits to your values to your physical surroundings, significantly affects your likelihood of success.

In other words, your environment either propels you forward or pulls you back. So look around you and see what you need to change in order to successfully reinvent yourself.

The world’s most successful people regularly change their environment to align with their highest potential. 

Take Morgan Freeman, for instance, who left small-time theater and moved to New York to chase bigger roles. Or Arianna Huffington, who surrounded herself with wellness experts before launching Thrive Global.

Their transformations happened because they placed themselves in environments that supported their new identities. 

So remember, a key part of growth is putting yourself in spaces where success is inevitable.

5. They Got Comfortable With Fear & Failure

By comparing case studies of those who have successfully reinvented themselves and those who haven’t, one thing stood out the most: Fear of failure hinders success. 

All of those who successfully reinvented themselves accepted and embraced failure. Rather than fearing it, these individuals saw failure as an essential part of the process.

Michael Jordan is a perfect example of this. He was cut from his high school basketball team, but instead of quitting like most people would, he doubled down on training and rewrote his future. 

Because the truth is, if you’re avoiding failure, you’re also avoiding growth. 

The faster you fail, the faster you learn, so stop trying to avoid missteps and use them as stepping stones towards your goal!

Ready To Make Your Move?

To discover more about what I learned from studying 20 people who reinvented themselves, watch the full video episode on YouTube:

---

Now, ask yourself: What’s the first small step you can take today to move closer to the person you want to become?

Leave a comment below to let me know!

And if you want some help shifting your mindset to make reinvention possible, download my free guide, ‘Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life.’ 

Resources:

• My Goal-Setting Planner – The WellPlanned Method™
• My Free Class for Health Coaches: How To Build A 6-Figure Health Coaching Business Using One Signature Program
• Dr. Kim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkimfoster/

---

---

---

---