Day 6 : How to Build the Winning Mindset for your Career Success : Developing a resilient and growth-oriented mindset
Visvanathan Sambasivam
?? Mentor, Teacher, Coach ???? Founder, Growth Catalysts Hub ?? Lifelong Learner ??Executive Director, CPG, Retail & Shopper, NielsenIQ ?? 28+ yrs of Consumer Insights & Market Research
Embrace a mindset geared towards continuous evolution and professional success
Building a resilient and growth-focused mindset is critical in this ever hugely demanding professional world. Success isn’t static; it’s about your ability to learn, adapt, and thrive amid constant change. Here’s how you can cultivate this mindset.
1. Adopt a Growth Mentality
Real-life Example:
Reed Hastings, co-founder and CEO of Netflix, is a perfect example of someone who adopted a growth mentality.
When Netflix was a DVD rental service, Hastings saw the potential of digital streaming long before it was mainstream. Instead of sticking to the traditional DVD model, he embraced the shift to digital. He and his team learned new business models and adapted to the changing landscape of media consumption. Today, Netflix dominates the streaming market, largely due to this growth mindset.
Action Tip:
Whenever you encounter a new challenge or skill gap, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” Seek out learning resources like online courses, workshops, or even a mentor to help you grow in that area. Look at out of box thinking and problem solving. Look at "what opportunity does this problem present" to move forward on the same.
2. Embrace Lifelong Learning
Real-life Example: Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, exemplifies lifelong learning.
After becoming CEO, he initiated a massive cultural shift at Microsoft by focusing on innovation and continuous learning. He earned advanced degrees while working, and continuously pushed himself and the company to learn about new technologies like cloud computing and AI. His leadership in driving Microsoft toward cloud solutions, especially Azure, has positioned the company as a tech leader in a rapidly changing industry.
Action Tip:
Dedicate a specific amount of time each week to learning something new. Sign up for newsletters in your industry, enroll in online classes, or attend conferences. Continuous learning keeps you adaptable and in demand.
3. Develop Emotional Resilience
Real-life Example: Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post, faced burnout and exhaustion early in her career, leading her to collapse from overwork.
Instead of letting the stress overwhelm her, she embraced meditation, self-care, and work-life balance. This emotional resilience helped her bounce back and eventually led to the founding of her wellness company, Thrive Global, where she now advocates for emotional and mental health in the workplace.
Action Tip:
Incorporate stress-management techniques into your daily routine. This could be through meditation, exercise, or journaling. Building emotional resilience ensures you can maintain focus even when facing setbacks.
4. Shift Your Perspective on Failure
Real-life Example: Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, experienced a significant failure when he was ousted from his own company in 1985.
Instead of letting the failure define him, Jobs used it as an opportunity for growth. He founded NeXT, a company that developed advanced computer workstations. Though NeXT wasn’t a huge commercial success, its technology was later used by Apple when Jobs returned in 1997. His experience from the “failure” at NeXT and Pixar helped him reshape Apple into one of the most valuable companies in the world.
Action Tip:
When you experience failure, take time to reflect on what went wrong and how you can improve. Write down three things you learned from the experience and apply them to your next project. Don’t fear failure—use it as fuel for growth.
5. Set Incremental Goals for Constant Growth
Real-life Example: Ursula Burns, former CEO of Xerox, started as an intern at the company and worked her way up through incremental progress.
She didn’t aim for a leadership position right away but set small, achievable goals, such as managing small projects and taking on team leadership roles. Over the years, her consistent growth led her to become the first African-American woman to head a Fortune 500 company. Burns emphasized the importance of setting smaller, actionable goals that eventually built her career and leadership credentials.
Action Tip:
Break down your big career goals into smaller, actionable steps. For instance, if you aim to become a manager, start by volunteering for leadership roles or taking on extra responsibilities. Celebrate each small victory—it brings you closer to the larger goal.
6. Stay Agile and Embrace Change
Real-life Example: Brian Chesky, co-founder of Airbnb, demonstrated agility during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The travel industry was one of the hardest hit sectors, and Airbnb faced a massive downturn in bookings. Chesky quickly pivoted the company’s focus toward offering “experiences” and long-term stays for remote workers. This adaptability allowed Airbnb to survive one of the most challenging periods for travel-based companies, and the company’s flexibility in response to the crisis set it apart from competitors.
Action Tip:
Keep an open mind when facing change. If your company introduces new technology or processes, be the first to learn them. Staying adaptable ensures you’ll always be one step ahead of the curve, making you a critical asset in times of transition.
By incorporating these strategies into your daily life, you’ll cultivate a mindset that not only withstands challenges but also thrives on continuous improvement. Embrace change, keep learning, and use setbacks as stepping stones to greater success.
Action Bonus : Take 15 minutes to think about your own mindset. How do you approach your life? Are you flexible? Do you have the positive mindset needed in today’s world to bounce back from challenges and failures? Do you know how to de-stress yourself? Take an inventory of yourself. Note it down. Share with us on what your learnings are and what your action plan is going to be
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Action Summary
If you are more of a audio - visual person and would rather like to see / listen to this, check out my video on youtube : (it is a 15 minute video)
If you want a 1 minute + version, check out my instagram reel here
If you want to learn a litBrian Chesky, co-founder of Airbnb, demonstrated agility during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The travel industry was one of the hardest hit sectors, and Airbnb faced a massive downturn in bookings. Chesky quickly pivoted the company’s focus toward offering “experiences” and long-term stays for remote workers. This adaptability allowed Airbnb to survive one of the most challenging periods for travel-based companies, and the company’s flexibility in response to the crisis set it apart from competitors.
Action Tip:
Keep an open mind when facing change. If your company introduces new technology or processes, be the first to learn them. Staying adaptable ensures you’ll always be one step ahead of the curve, making you a critical asset in times of transition.
By incorporating these strategies into your daily life, you’ll cultivate a mindset that not only withstands challenges but also thrives on continuous improvement. Embrace change, keep learning, and use setbacks as stepping stones to greater success.
Action Bonus : Take 15 minutes to think about your own mindset. How do you approach your life? Are you flexible? Do you have the positive mindset needed in today’s world to bounce back from challenges and failures? Do you know how to de-stress yourself? Take an inventory of yourself. Note it down. Share with us on what your learnings are and what your action plan is going to be
Action Summary
If you are more of a audio - visual person and would rather like to see / listen to this, check out my video on youtube : (it is a 15 minute video)
Brian Chesky, co-founder of Airbnb, demonstrated agility during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The travel industry was one of the hardest hit sectors, and Airbnb faced a massive downturn in bookings. Chesky quickly pivoted the company’s focus toward offering “experiences” and long-term stays for remote workers. This adaptability allowed Airbnb to survive one of the most challenging periods for travel-based companies, and the company’s flexibility in response to the crisis set it apart from competitors.
Action Tip:
Keep an open mind when facing change. If your company introduces new technology or processes, be the first to learn them. Staying adaptable ensures you’ll always be one step ahead of the curve, making you a critical asset in times of transition.
By incorporating these strategies into your daily life, you’ll cultivate a mindset that not only withstands challenges but also thrives on continuous improvement. Embrace change, keep learning, and use setbacks as stepping stones to greater success.
Action Bonus : Take 15 minutes to think about your own mindset. How do you approach your life? Are you flexible? Do you have the positive mindset needed in today’s world to bounce back from challenges and failures? Do you know how to de-stress yourself? Take an inventory of yourself. Note it down. Share with us on what your learnings are and what your action plan is going to be
Action Summary
If you are more of a audio - visual person and would rather like to see / listen to this, check out my video on youtube : (it is a 15 minute video)
If you want to learn a little more about how you can create this magic, please feel free to get in touch with me. You may want to check out my course: "Unlocking the Secrets to Getting that Dream Job"??
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About the Author: Visvanathan Sambasivam
I am a corporate professional, having worked as a Marketing / Consumer Insights professional in various Indian and Global MNCs for the last 30 years, with a passion for mentoring, teaching, and coaching; with a vision of helping 1 million people in their personal and professional growth.
I write regularly on LinkedIn & Facebook and have mentored many people in their professional journey.