Two Key Factors for Success

Signs that you have a success mindset

There are millions of books and formulas and testimonials about success in every walk of life. I work with business executives and entrepreneurs and success means different things to my clients. It may feel oversimplified to claim that just two things can bring success. Usually, we look for a set of principles.

This is true, but I believe these two are foundational to the development of the attitude and ultimately the habits that bring success. Success in this context defines as being able to fulfill your potential and accomplishing your life purpose. Both these factors acknowledge that your potential is inherently latent and must be stirred up or drawn out.

Reading

"A successful person has a big library and those struggling to succeed have a big television.” - Jim Rohn

We live under an unending stream of entertainment that dulls our senses. Someone rightly said we are being entertained to death. We have screens that demand our mindless attention 24/7. We have less time to think or even hold ideas long enough to process them. When we need solutions, we quickly plagiarise from the internet or worse turn to artificial intelligence portals.

A good book is like a wind that stirs up that which is deep inside you. It may be a gentle breeze or a howling blast, but books are the greatest source of inspiration and stimulating ideas. Any successful entrepreneur is a good reader or has read a good book. The genre is secondary, the ability to process ideas and creatively listen to the stories and extract logic from a written page is an ultimate skill.

What are you reading? What great book did you read recently? Is there a recommended book that you have not read yet? What are you waiting for? Get your hands on a copy!

Learning from others

Successful people learn that they are not the best. They acknowledge that others can make them better. They cultivate a curious mind and are receptive to the input of others. They never feel that they have arrived.

"That’s why, if you look at athletes, any performer artists, they have mentors and coaches. They’re studying and learning.Why? Without it, they only know what they know. When you can get access to learning, you’ll see new things and perspectives that you haven’t seen before — or can’t see by yourself because you’re not even aware that those things exist." - Michael Zipursky

Successful people are always progressing. They ask questions, listen attentively and are humble. They know that to be the best is a sum of various inputs from others. They are patient and keep a level of humility that allows them to glean something from others all the time, even though they have so much to give.

They are mindful of the company they keep and seek consistently to be inspired to attempt more than they have already achieved. They are not afraid to change or challenge their assumptions and deepen their insights.

Are there people who challenge and stretch your perspective or do you only surround yourself with peers, who simply endorse your status quo? Do not be the ceiling to your personal development and a limit to your success.

Nicholas Sibanda is a specialist in business model development and works with executives and their teams to simplify and enhance the process of executive decision-making. He publishes Business resources for SME leaders and Nonprofits.

To access more resources, please visit niq.mystrikingly.com