I’ve been studying the mindset of successful people for decades, and they share a set of common beliefs. People who struggle to produce the results they want also have shared beliefs, beliefs that are in stark contrast to the beliefs of the more successful.
Here are seven enemies that alone or together destroy the mindset necessary to succeed and reach your goals.
1. Ungrateful
Without a sense of gratitude, you will never develop the mindset that brings success. A lack of gratitude is the seed of negativity and cynicism. Destroy this enemy by answering the question ‘What are you grateful for right now?’
2. Apathy
A lack of enthusiasm, or a more general indifference, is the surest path to mediocrity. Success, and the results necessary to bring it, has to be passionately pursued. Cure yourself by developing a bigger mission, a bigger reason ‘why’ you must succeed. If you struggle, make a list of the people who are counting on you.
3. Victimhood
The belief that the world is acting against you and that you are powerless to shape your future is the victim’s mindset. Success in any endeavour comes to those who believe they have the power to act and the power to change things.
Make a list of your challenges, and then make a list of what actions you can take to produce the results you want. Couple that with a list of resources available to you, and get help where you need it.
4. Learned Helplessness
Belief that you can’t do something or that you can’t learn to do it will repel success away from you. Success knows that what one man can do, another man can do. Innoculate yourself from this belief by getting your hands dirty and trying the things you struggle to do well. Over time, your competence will grow.
5. No Vision
Without a vision of what your future result looks like, there is no drive, no motivation to do what is necessary to move towards it. Your vision becomes your reality. Develop a vision of where you want to be in three years. Dream big. No one is compelled by a small vision.
6. Fear of Being Judged
Success hides from people who fear being judged by others. The critics aren’t the people for whom you do your work. Success comes to those who ‘put themselves out there.’ Most people won’t care what you do; they’ll ignore you. The people who do care will applaud you for doing what you do. The critics will never love you no matter what, so ignore them and get moving.
7. Lack of Discipline
To have what you want tomorrow you have to forego what it is you want today. Success comes to those who are willing to suffer a little now and delay their gratification. Make a list of daily disciplines, and keep those disciplines. This is the surest path to success: the daily commitment to act to further one’s goals.
QUESTIONS
- Which of the seven enemies will you do battle with?
- Which one of these is preventing you from producing the results that you want from your life?
- Know that each of these seven enemies is rooted in some fear that lives inside you.
- What is it you fear?
