What do you think is the reason behind the success of the most successful people around the world? Financial background? Education? Successful family maybe? Nope. Not really…
Much as it is quite consoling to believe that they had what we do not, it unfortunately is not the truth. People such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson and Henry Ford all came from humble backgrounds. Many of the big players out there are not even college graduates.
So, what is that one quality, that aspect of their personality which these super entrepreneurs share, which sets them apart from millions of SMB owners and the self-employed? It is nothing other than the entrepreneurial mindset.
What are the three keys to the entrepreneurial mindset?
Key 1: Embracing failure
Do you know what sets winners and losers apart in business? It is how they handle failure. No wonder many would-be entrepreneurs, especially in Australia, are held back by fear of failure.
Successful entrepreneurs embrace failure as a learning experience. Just view everything as an experiment. Don’t label outcomes as failures, they are just outcomes. If something does not work, learn from it, adjust your approach and try again.
And if you are not failing, you are not pushing yourself enough. You are remaining in your comfort zone and cannot expect to reach the level of success you are capable of.
Key 2: Fixed vs variable mindset
In her book Mindset, world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck distilled decades of research on achievement and success into a simple concept that turns out to be a fundamental key to success: the concept of fixed and variable mindsets.
In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities such as intelligence or talent are simply fixed traits. They have a certain amount of brains and talent and nothing can change that. If they have a lot, they are all set, but if they don’t, they are doomed.
Such people worry about how adequate their traits are. They have something to prove to themselves and others. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success—without effort. Oh how wrong they are!
People with a growth mindset, on the other hand, see their qualities as things that can be developed through their dedication and effort. Sure they are happy if they are brainy or talented, but that’s just the starting point. This is the mindset you need to develop.
This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. Virtually all great people have had these qualities. They understand that no one has ever accomplished great things—not Mozart, Darwin, or Michael Jordan—without years of passionate practice and learning.
Key 3: Blissful productivity
Ever seen someone that‘s really hooked on a computer video game? They look like they are in paradise while spending hours and hours sitting in front of a computer screen, solving problems much like your typical office worker, and yet they’re completely blissful.
Now what about the actual typical office worker? He often looks bored out of his mind. He’s totally not engaged. He wants to be somewhere else. Doesn’t sound productive at all, does he?
If you are going to go through the effort of starting a business, you might as well start something you enjoy! Not only will you get more happiness out of it, you’re also more likely to be successful, because the pleasure you get from doing what you love will carry you through the hard times.
Johan du Plessis is a founder at Corporate to Freedom. Come check out our 1-day Startup Bootcamp in Sydney on Sat 27 July 2013. Brian Sher, founder of a $100million company and author of 6 books on Wealth and Success, will lead a whole session on the Entrepreneur’s Mindset of Success!
[notice] Corporate to Freedom 1-Day Startup Bootcamp will be held at the Scientia Building UNSW Kensington Campus, 9am-5pm. Tickets start at $217. For more information, please visit www.corporatetofreedom.com
Special to Anthill Readers – Tickets are normally $217, but you can use the promo-code “ANTHILL” and pay only $130 – that’s a massive 40% off! [/notice]
