Enter in your email now to receive my
step-by-step video to help you create instant focus.
You will discover you can create instant focus and use it to upgrade your productivity
Did you ever feel you didn't belong? Have you ever felt like you are different from everyone else and are not getting anywhere?
I was just a little kid when I moved to Australia. I didn't know how to speak English, and most kids bullied me for how I looked and how I spoke. This constant bullying made such an impact on me.
I felt like I didn't belong. I shied away from the spotlight. At that time, I was genuinely terrified of public speaking and any other activity that would require me to be in front of many people.
But the surprising this is, if it weren't for those experiences, I would not be where I am today. I will not be able to share with you how your mindset can enable you to beat the odds.
The purpose of this article is to let you know what mindset can do to shape your success. In the end, you will be able to know the following:
- What mindset is all about
- Your mindset should not constrain you; it should enable you.
- How to change your mindset and stop self-sabotage
- What are the common pitfalls of mindset change and ways to overcome them.
If you aspire to change the course of your life for the better, then this discussion can help you. If you are the sort of person who wants to achieve something meaningful, then this discussion is for you.
Did you know that Steve Jobs was adopted? In an interview, he dwelled on this aspect of his life, and two distinct perspectives were put to light:
1st Perspective - He was abandoned and unwanted
2nd Perspective – He was chosen; he was special
Which one do you think is the right mindset or perspective above?
Life is full of setbacks. It can be being passed over a promotion or being beaten by a competitor. We cannot avoid obstacles, but we can have the right mindset to overcome them.
Your mindset determines your reaction to a particular situation. And how you react and act in that situation determines your future. So, which mindset above can lead to greater happiness and a well-lived life?
We must understand the importance of mindset. So, what exactly is a mindset?
A mindset is a set of beliefs, habits, assumptions, and even biases that influence how you perceive the world and yourself. It has an impact on how you think, feel, and act in any scenario.
I had come to realize the value of my mindset when my mentor shared something. This something changed the way I think of myself.
My mentor is a retired C-level executive, and I was shocked to hear that he admired me! He admired my skills, discipline, and mental toughness. Me? Someone who was picked at in school?
But in hindsight, this comment became a catalyst. It cultivated in me a sense of confidence that allowed me to try my hand at anything.
I realized that what makes me different from other people is not something I should be ashamed of. It's an opportunity for me to shine. What a mindset shift that is!
I went on a journey, spending time, effort, and money to travel to different places, discovering how my mind influences my health, productivity, and personal effectiveness. What a difference that made to how my mind works today.
One important mindset concept that I learned in this journey is knowing that one's identity is not set in concrete. You can choose. Steve Jobs chose the second mindset. So did I, and so should you.
Consciously choosing the mindset that's aligned to your goal can be challenging. There are mental stressors, but you know what Steve Jobs did? He hired Bill Campbell, also known as the "Trillion Dollar Coach." Bill coached Steve to understand precisely what mindset is and use the right mindset to be the best version of himself.
The key is to become conscious of different reactions to situations. Then, choose the right mindset. This deliberate choice in mentality has a significant impact on how we react to the world around us.
"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
― Viktor E. Frankl
Essentially, when you can control your mindset, you can control your response to any circumstances. This will, in turn, allow you to control your future.
What are the factors that can influence your mindset?
- Your identity – the persona or perspective you want to carry
- Your level of energy – this influences your mood and energy levels
- Your stress levels – are you stressed or relaxed?
- Your posture – the way you carry yourself
- Your environment – who and what surrounds you
- Your food – the quality of food you eat
- Your gut bacteria – the body elements that can stimulate the brain functions
All these factors influence your mindset. So, what will you do with all this information?
There are two types of challenges. The first is planned mindset challenges – what you aspire to be and what you want to achieve. Then, there are unplanned mindset challenges - unexpected failures, criticism, and the like.
Here are some tips that can help you deal with unplanned mindset challenges. I call it the PBNRR:
- Power Pause – don't react just yet.
- Breathe – Take a deep breath; calm yourself.
- Notice Mindset – Think about the mindset triggering you.
- Reflect & Choose – Rationalize the unplanned mindset challenge
- Respond – Now, with the right mind frame, you can respond.
This is the process you can practice whenever you get triggered by something unplanned.
But what about planned challenges? Here are some tips:
- Don't try to boil the ocean – target a specific mindset.
- Ask - Is there a cost for not doing anything? - if there's no long-term cost,
maybe it's not worth your time.
- Choose a practice for programming your mind – a complex or straightforward technique to help you determine if you are thinking correctly.
- Know if you are successful – measure your success; get feedback.
Now you may ask - What if I fail? You don't need to feel bad. That's part of being human. But there are things you can do.
Join a like-minded community that can help you work at changing your mindset. You can also find a person who can be your coach or confidant on your journey to becoming accountable and changing the way you think. You can follow a change system that can help you manage your mindset transition. There are several resources out there that can help you in your journey towards creating the right mindset.
Now, with all this flood of information, I know you might get overwhelmed. So, if you want a more structured approach, you will be interested to know that I am in the process of creating a course. It's a distillation of everything I have learned in the last ten years. It outlines my journey from that shy, bullied kid who hated the spotlight to a transformed individual.
This course aims to push leaders to higher performance. It's a self-paced framework that can elevate your focus in a world of distractions. It's a learning of staying calm under pressure, thinking strategically, magnifying your influence, and a host of other aspects that will surely take your leadership to the next level.
It's a community of experiential learning that follows a step-by-step process, taking you towards the path of success. For more details, you may check https://www.executivewarrioracademy.com/3-steps-ppj-webinar/
See the need to rise to the occasion and change your mindset. This is your ultimate tool to success.
