Mindset Is Everything In Driving Your Success INS 25

According to those who know me best, I apparently have enough confidence to power a freight train. Their words, not mine. However, I would have to agree. Is that too forward?

I kid…sort of.

Actually, the point of today’s podcast is that mindset is everything, and it’s what drives success (or failure) in just about everything you, or shall I say you don’t do. Time and time again I face challenges in my personal life and in business, and I know you do too, but having the right mindset to rise to the occasion is what has helped me find success. Remember that I’ve often said that regardless of whether I fail or succeed I’m still going to win every time?

This of course leads me to my first point to having the right mindset.

Expect failure

Learning from failure is just a critical component to our success. Whether you’ve been an entrepreneur or working in your career for several years, or if you’re just starting out, I can comfortably tell you that your path to success is likely not going to be from point A to point B. Anticipate detours, obstacles, distractions, and just about anything that could set you up for failure. Know that it’s likely to happen regardless of how much you plot out your course, but get comfortable with the concept of picking yourself back up and moving forward.

On a side note, I also don’t mind being wrong. I’d rather take a chance, and if I have to eat crow later, then I just pivot my mindset to think I’m eating duck a l’orange and I devour it.

Own that failure, study it, tell yourself you’re going to be better, and move the heck on.

And, speaking of moving on…

Delegate and keep that forward momentum

Now this is an area where I can also speak from experience and honestly tell you that there is no way I can (or you) can possibly do everything. One if not the most important aspects of a good leader is to embrace the fact that we’re not going to be able to scale without help. I do possess quite a few skills, and one important skill is to know when to have someone else execute on a particular task.

I can provide that high level thinking and discuss strategy all day long, but I don’t have all day to be involved in just a few tasks at a time because I have businesses with a lot of moving parts that need attention, and without a team in place, then there’s no way it’s all going to get done.

This is also where a confident mindset is important. I’ve worked with many executives over the years and every now and again I come across a few who are either constantly second guessing their colleagues or somehow seem to feel inadequate or upstaged by a rockstar team because they apparently felt it was their job to come up with the ideas or to execute on every objective to reach the final goal.

Leave the ego at the door.

I’ll be the first one to admit that if something isn’t working or if I’m just not able to effectively execute on an idea, then I’m going to seek help. My strength is knowing my limitations, and doubling down on what I do know. If I’m stumbling through something and wasting a lot of time, I quickly realize that this is not good for business as I’m spending less time actually working on the business.

Keep questioning and learning

Now here is where you might think that I’m contradicting myself from my previous statement of doubling down on what I know. I am an expert in a lot of areas, but I certainly didn’t start out that way. I had to experience and learn along the way.

My previous point was to understand your limitations and assess whether it’s a task worth delegating. Do carve out time for personal development and certainly stay close to a project that others may be performing so that you can learn from them.

This is why I have an open door policy for my entire team starting with the interns, and going all the way up to the director level. I have learned something valuable with just about everyone I’ve worked with, and so will you.

Stay thirsty for knowledge and do carve out that time for some professional development, but don’t let that thirst drown you by learning something new when the stakes are high and the deadlines are tight. This might not be the best time to muddle your way through a project.

Definitely keep on top of industry trends and be sure to share this with your team.

Step Away From The Negative That’s Hanging Out On Your Left

Part of feeding your mind is to surround yourself with people who aren’t the naysayers. I get it. We encounter plenty of folks who want to be the voice of reason, and that’s fine, but being stuck in this gear of a negative mindset and the “have nots” is definitely going to take the wind out of your sails pretty quickly. They’ll literally suck the wind out of you.

Whether it’s your colleagues at work, or negative messaging in the news or social media, you’ve got to limit your exposure. It’s okay to be informed, but don’t get sucked up into the mire. A desire to affect change is good, just assess your capacity to do so, and definitely avoid those “brick walls” with lips as I like to refer to those that are obstinate. They’re likely not going to budge.

Move on people, there’s nothing more to see here.

What I would suggest is to read something or consume some type of content at the end of the day that is inspirational and moves you. Put that in your mind before you head off to bed and you’ll likely be more focused to hit the ground running in the morning.

Seriously, You’ve Got To Get Moving

Being under pressure is no excuse to forget about your own needs, specifically getting that heart rate up and hopefully some fresh air to boot. Your heart rate is likely up anyway if you’re stressed, but as nurses we know that this release of adrenaline that’s not adequately used through physical activity doesn’t bode well for the body in the long term.

Whether you start your day with a workout, or if you carve out time in the middle or end of your day, just get it done. I’ve personally done my own research on this one and I can tell you that I think more clearly, have more ideas, and I’m laser focused on what I’m doing if I get up off my duff and move.

Put it on the calendar if you have to. Just schedule it and leave it there just as if you have an important meeting with yourself and mother nature.

So remember, it’s a guarantee that these obstacles will present themselves to you, but stay positive and face these challenges head on. Trust your instincts, fall in love with you and your business again, and crush it.

 

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4 Comments

  1. reneefava on August 7, 2015 at 1:45 pm

    Great post Kevin! I think many nurses are afraid of making mistakes so that don’t take risks. I love that you actually embrace making mistakes, or failing because getting ahead – succeeding always involves a bit of risk taking. And you are so right, stay away from the negative, energy vampires. You know, the ones who suck the life out of you!! Far better to surround yourself with positive people who understand that you only have one life. Make it count.

    Thanks for being a positive role model!
    Renee



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