People matter - there will always be people quick to point out what we’re doing wrong, why we failed or why we’re going to fail, why we’re not good enough… but the willingness to walk away from naysayers is an act of courage necessary in the pursuit of a goal, positivity, change, professional success or sporting greatness.
One comment is enough to change a life – be kind. None of us truly know what another is going through. Kindness or a simple word of encouragement can mean more to its recipient than we expect, and costs nothing. And while kindness often boomerangs back to us, give it generously without expectation.
It all boils down to you - take responsibility. While surrounding ourselves with great people and walking away from the relationships that do not serve us, the fact of the matter still remains – only you can do what it needs to be done.
A diagnosis is a good thing - knowing where you are, you can figure where you need to go, and how you can get there.
Be intentional – control the controllables - mindset, sleep, what you consume – control what you can control. We can choose where to place our attention: on the things within our remit of control, or those outside.
Practice mindfulness - mindfulness is about staying in contact with the present moment as much as possible, about focused attention on ‘’the now’’ (without looking back to the past where we risk regret or depression for example, or forward to the future where we risk feelings of anxiety or fear).
When you think it’s all over, try one more time - our reserves are often greater than we realise. In sport, one more push can see us cross the finish line a spit second before our competitor, and can be the difference between medal placement, or not. Similarly as entrepreneurs, choosing to ‘’go again’’ can produce an entirely different outcome - securing a new client, closing a deal.
Plan for the tough times. Put systems in place. Do the work - “Become obsessed and put in the hours. Maybe I wasn’t even good at athletics, maybe I just worked really hard.”
Look for areas of marginal improvements - where can you make minor changes, to yourself as an entrepreneur and self-leader, to your startup? Where can you identify areas for minor improvement? Slow and steady progress produces significant and sustainable growth. Seek incremental steps. Growth is what matters, not its pace.
Winning is outstaying your competitors - have passion for comeptetion and don’t be afraid to go the distance. The reward at the end is much greater, even if you loose. ‘’Pain is temporaty, if you quit however, it will last forever.’’
