Establishing a Winning Mindset
Desire, Commitment, Persistence, Immediacy
In our last post, we introduced 4 pillars to help you build the right foundation from which to build your winning platform and to help you succeed in your job or life.
- Attitude
- Mindset
- Commitment
- Confidence.
In this post, let’s take a look into the second pillar – Mindset.
Everyone’s mindset varies individually, that is simply the art of being human. However, to truly succeed, a growth mindset is required. As a side note, read Carol Dweck’s “Mindset – the New Psychology of Success” to learn more for excellent insights into a growth mindset. A particular mindset can affect all areas of your life, from business, sports and love. The good news, says Dweck, is that “mindsets are not set, at any time, you can learn to use a growth mindset to achieve success and happiness.”
“mindsets are not set, at any time, you can learn to use a growth mindset to achieve success and happiness.” - Dweck
A mindset, according to Webster’s Dictionary, is “a fixed state of mind.” When Keith McIntyre started The KMAC Group, the mindset he adopted was ‘anything is possible, relentless customer service is everything, and there is always a better way to do things.’ Your own specific mindset may be slightly different, but to truly succeed, it must be a positive one.
For this mindset to be effective, he had to take immediate action, and lots of it. That meant doing things with a sense of urgency because as a new business we were living in obscurity. People didn’t know us. They didn’t know what we were about, or what our ideas and services were. They didn’t know or understand how KMAC could help them. We had to follow-up with every contact, every lead, and every opportunity that developed. Eliminating any doubt was key, because initially as a new business with only 1 employee, Keith was on his own. Leaving him as the only one who could push forward. This mindset is what allowed him to challenge the status quo. Take an assertive mindset, sell your ideas, push forward with deep conviction, and grow your business.
This can be defined as a growth mindset. A growth mindset is when people believe that they can develop their abilities to a greater degree by thriving on challenges and stretching your existing abilities. A growth mindset requires the following:
- Desire: you have to want what you are going after, in fact, you have to want it so much that nothing will get in the way.
- Commitment: you have to be committed to your vision. It’s 100% all-in: not half-way, and no hedging your bets.
- Persistence: you have to stick to a process; there are no shortcuts to winning.
- Immediacy: waiting or procrastinating doesn’t work. A sense of urgency is required or the world will pass you by; act now.
This is not a short-term endeavour, rather it is a life-long commitment and continual work in progress.
We challenge you to ask yourself, what mindset do you have?
Think of a time when you overcame adversity and excelled through that period. What did you do? What was your mindset? Have you maintained that mindset through other challenges you have faced?
If you could cultivate a successful mindset when it comes to all the adversity you face, how would that change your everyday success?
In business and sports, organizations and people that excel have understood that mindset also includes your company’s purpose and vision and your employee’s purpose and vision. In fact, Mindset is the compass that gives you direction to drive your company and its people forward. With a growth Mindset anything is possible for you and your business to advance.