My Story: From Stress to Success
I’m Nick Hazleton, an journalist, editor, and creator of Success Instead of Stress.
I didn’t build this site because I “mastered life.” I built it because for years, my career and life felt chaotic: constant anxiety, scattered focus, financial pressure, and a phone that grabbed my attention the second I woke up.
What changed everything wasn’t a single breakthrough; it was a long series of small, practical decisions that helped me rebuild my habits, increase my leverage, and take control of my career and life.
From Anxiety to Clarity
I used to live in survival mode. I struggled with panic attacks, overthinking, and a constant sense that I was behind in every area of my life.
Learning to slow down, regulate my stress, and stay present didn’t come naturally. It took rewiring how I responded to pressure and rebuilding my environment so my mind could finally breathe.
Today, I feel grounded, calm, and centered most days. It's not because life is perfect, but because I finally have tools that work.
These are the same tools I teach here.
Choosing a Different Career Path
For years I worked in marketing and management, always trying to become someone I wasn’t.
Following my passion for writing changed everything. I built a new career as a journalist and editor, writing for outlets like Woman’s World, Us Weekly, the Miami Herald, HotCars, and more.
It was the first major step in building a life aligned with my goals, skills, and long-term leverage.
From Financial Stress to Stability
My financial story wasn’t glamorous. I lived paycheck to paycheck for years, had multiple car repossessions, and even tax debt.
Yes, systems mattered (budgeting, automation, saving, and investing), but just as important was changing how I thought about money. Fear and shame were holding me back more than anything.
I stopped treating money as a source of stress and started treating it as a tool to create stability and optionality.
Today, I’m debt-free, own my car outright, maintain a 6-month emergency fund, and save or invest 25% of my income.
This is why I teach both the emotional side and the practical systems. Real, lasting change requires both.
Building a Life Worth Living
My life isn’t perfect, but it’s radically different than it used to be.
I married the woman of my dreams, we travel the world together, and I’ve experienced things I never imagined during the years I was struggling: from exotic car tracks to international adventures.
Most importantly, I’ve regained focus, reduced my screen time to less than two hours a day, and created a life structured around intentional, high-leverage choices.
The Modern Problem: Distraction, Overstimulation & Lost Attention
The world is designed to hijack focus. It’s not just phones; it’s the algorithms behind them.
Platforms push content that triggers anxiety, anger, or urgency to keep you scrolling.
I know what it feels like to lose hours to this cycle. Learning to take my attention back changed my work, health, relationships, and ability to think clearly.
Success isn’t about doing more. It’s about protecting your attention so you can act strategically and live intentionally.
Our Mission
Leverage
Increase your influence and measurable impact at work.
Systems
Put structures in place that keep your attention, energy, and decisions under control.
Skills
Build a stack of capabilities that compound over time.
Results
Make measurable progress toward financial, professional, and personal goals.
Nick's Media Highlights
