People who are successful have a different mindset than the rest of us. They seem to easily bounce back from set backs and have a generally upbeat and optimistic view of the future.
When people are successful, opportunities seem drawn to them. The good news is you can learn to have a successful mindset, so let’s take a look at how to achieve it.
Mindset
by Carol Dweck
⏱ 16 minutes reading time
🎧 Audio version available
Have a long-term vision for the future
You can’t be successful if you don’t know what you are trying to achieve. It would be like getting in your car and driving aimlessly with no destination in mind. Who knows where you would end up!
Creating goals for yourself will not only help you move forward with your life plan, it will also increase your confidence. However, you can’t set short-term goals without a long-term plan, so decide on one and then work towards this future by setting achievable goals. Getting some direction into your life will help direct you toward your goals rather than drifting aimlessly from one day to the next.
Develop a growth mindset
All successful people have a growth mindset. This way of thinking about things usually develops in childhood, but it can be learned. If you have a growth mindset, you believe that anything is possible and that any mistakes or setbacks are simply part of the growth process.
Someone with a growth mindset is always prepared to learn and develop. You are more likely to accept constructive criticism as being helpful and you likely find other peoples’ success stories inspirational. These traits lead to success.
Ditch the fixed mindset
Many people have a fixed mindset; which means they believe there are limits to what we can do or are capable of doing. A fixed mindset imposes limits on your perception of your own intelligence and leads you to view set backs or criticism as a personal attack.
Deep down, people with a fixed mindset fear they are limited in what they can achieve and any negative feedback reflects badly upon their self-image. The truth is that you can achieve almost anything if you persevere, so it is important to ditch the fixed mindset and to free yourself from self imposed limitations. It can be difficult, if not impossible, to learn new skills or move forward in your career if you have a fixed mindset.
Get positive!
Successful people are positive. They tend to believe that anything is possible, and while there may be set backs along the way, it is all part of the learning experience.
Adopting a more positive mindset and looking at successful people as an inspiration rather than becoming consumed with jealousy or negativity, will help you develop a more positive outlook. Feelings of negativity will not help you succeed, so banish them and try to change your outlook.
Positivity breeds more positivity. By banishing negative thoughts, you will find that you become happier and more fulfilled. This is a far more successful mindset than having a pessimistic outlook on life. Positivity is attractive and it encourages other people to share in your vision.
Understand yourself and your strengths.
We are all unique, and therefore have different strengths and weaknesses. For example, Bill Gates was an introverted computer nerd, who channeled his passion into computer development.
He didn’t worry about not being voted most attractive man on campus, for example. Instead he focused on his strengths and worked hard to develop his computer technology. Successful people focus on their own life plan in a way that plays to their strengths. So understanding yourself will help you to capitalize on your future.
Accept failure as part of the journey
Nothing ever goes according to plan. It is inevitable that, sometimes, you will fail. A successful person will accept the failures along with the successes and keep going. Remember, with a growth mind set, anything is possible, if you allow it to be.
Don’t be afraid to stand out from the crowd
Most successful people are original thinkers who are not risk adverse. Sometimes, to be successful, you need to step out of the conventional way of doing things and go it alone to lead the pack rather than follow.
This can take guts, determination, and drive; you need to believe in your vision, so you can fight through the hard times without letting criticism get to you. Remember they will change their tune once your risk pays off.
Keeping still is moving backwards
Successful people are always looking for the next opportunity or challenge. Nothing in life stays the same, so once you have reached your goal; it is time to move on to the next challenge or phase of your plan.
Did Bill Gates really expect to become one of the richest and most successful men in the world when he started in his garage? It seems unlikely. He got there by always moving forward and focusing on his life plan.
Love what you do!
We only get one life, so it is important to spend it in a worthwhile way. Don’t waste time treading water or wasting your time on something that you don’t care about. Focus on what you are doing and if you love what you do, you will find that success is far more likely to follow you on your journey.
What Is Snapreads?
With the Snapreads app, you get the key insights from the best nonfiction books in minutes, not hours or days. Our experts transform these books into quick, memorable, easy-to-understand insights you can read when you have the time or listen to them on the go.
