SUCCESS IS A MIND GAME – at times, a very difficult mind game:

Most thought leaders agree that 80% - 90% of success or achievement boils down to one’s own attitude and mindset.

While skills, knowledge, creativity, grit, work ethic, and the willingness to level up are all part of the formula; the single greatest obstacle that we all face in the pursuit of #success turns out to be our own limiting beliefs.?Most of which we picked up as children from family, school, church, and other external influences.?Those are not, and do not need to be our reality.?

The battle is real, it’s no joke, and it is an absolute roller coaster.?It’s so easy to let self-doubt and external input derail one’s quest. Or to make us completely question everything that we think we know is true, or that we think is working.

When I hit these inflection points, there are a few hacks that I like to keep in mind to help me properly frame obstacles and to overcome them.

?? 1. Default mode in the midst of crisis is often panic and to catastrophize.?I find that reminding myself (sometimes with the help of good friends and mentors) that the “sky is not falling” is the first step to seeing a clear path forward.

?? 2. I then like to ground to what I know is true and what data and experience confirm to be accurate.?The mind tends to lean toward and cling to irrational thoughts.?Grounding in truth and data resets a constructive, realistic perspective.

?? 3. “Discomfort is a sign of progress” – If “all is quiet in Dodge” (Gunsmoke reference.?Yes, I’m that old ??), its likely that I am not on the right path.?While “easy sailing” is a welcomed respite at times, it generally also means that I am not stretching myself adequately and that the likelihood of achieving my desired outcome is diminished.?So, I like to remind myself that the mental rollercoaster is a natural and positive part of the journey.

?? 4. “It’s about the journey, not the destination”. I so often get lost in laser focus on a specific outcome, that I forget to enjoy the journey and all the little wins along the way.?Reminding myself that I am human, and that life is meant to be enjoyed helps bring me back to center.

?? 5. I then get to work on defining what my next target is and formulating my plan to reach it.?I like to think in “baby steps” and smaller milestones first.?Tackling smaller summits on my way to the ultimate target gives me good wins under my belt and keeps me motivated to continue to the next summit/target.

?? 6. EXECUTE! There is no other substitution.?Quality, sustained execution is requisite for achievement.

Continually seeking to level up will always push us physically, emotionally, and mentally to the bounds of what we have previously thought possible.?While the adventure can undoubtably be bumpy and challenging, remembering that “anything worth achieving is worth the effort to achieve it” keeps me focused, and in a state of mind where I can constructively deal with the obstacles, setbacks, and limiting beliefs that I encounter along the way.

#entrepreneurship #leadership #business #musingsofadelusionalentrepreneur