Change lens to see things differently
From my childhood, something that has always fascinated me is what are some of the things that the very successful people around us do differently than everyone else. Why have they been so successful in reaching some of their goals, but not others? It turns out that even brilliant, highly accomplished people are pretty lousy when it comes to understanding why they succeed or fail.
The intuitive answer is that we are born predisposed to certain talents and lacking in others. It is really just one small piece of the puzzle. In fact, decades of research on achievement suggests that successful people reach their goals not simply because of who they are, but more often because of what they do.
While there are many different qualities and habits that the successful people possess, here are five things that can help us differentiate us from the rest:
1. Seize the moment
Given how busy most of us are, and how many goals we are juggling with at the same time, it’s not surprising that we routinely miss opportunities to act on a goal because we simply fail to pay attention to. Did we really have no time to work out today? No chance at any point to return that phone call? Achieving our goal means grabbing all those opportunities before they slip through our fingers.
To seize the moment, decide when and where you will take each action you want to take, in advance. Again, be as specific as possible e.g., If it’s Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, I’ll work out for 30 minutes before work. This kind of planning will help our brain to detect and seize the opportunity when it arises, increasing our chances of success manyfold.
2. Focus
Believing we have the ability to reach our goals is important, but so is believing that I have the ability. Many of us believe that our intelligence, our personality, and our physical aptitudes are fixed — that no matter what we do, we won’t improve. As a result, we focus on goals that are all about proving ourselves, rather than developing and acquiring new skills.
Believing in fixed ability is completely wrong — abilities of all kinds are profoundly malleable. Embracing the fact that we can change will allow us to make better choices, and reach our fullest potential. People whose goals are about getting better, rather than being good, take difficulty in stride, and appreciate the journey as much as the destination.
3. Willpower
Our self-control “muscle” is just like the other muscles in our body — when it doesn’t get much exercise, it becomes weaker over time. But when we go for regular workouts by putting it to good use, it will grow stronger and better to help us successfully reach our goals. To build willpower, let’s take on a challenge that requires us to do something we’d honestly rather not do. Let’s give up high-fat snacks, do 100 sit-ups a day, stand up straight when we catch ourselves slouching, try to learn a new skill.
When we find ourselves wanting to give in, give up, or just not bother — don’t. Start with just one activity, and make a plan for how to deal with troubles when they occur, e.g., if I have a craving for a snack, I will eat one piece of fresh or three pieces of dried fruit. It will be hard in the beginning, but it will get easier, and that’s the whole point. As our strength grows, we can take on more challenges and step-up our self-control workout.
4. Have Grit
Grit is a willingness to commit to long-term goals, and to persist in the face of difficulty. Gritty people obtain more education in their lifetime, and earn higher college GPAs. Grit predicts which cadets will stick out their first grueling year in the forces. In fact, grit even predicts which round contestants will make it to the finals of the game.
The good news is, if we aren’t particularly gritty now, there is something we can do about it. People who lack grit more often than not believe that they just don’t have the innate abilities successful people have. If that describes our own thinking, there’s no way to put this nicely: we are wrong. As I mentioned earlier, effort, planning, persistence, and good strategies are what it really takes us to succeed. Embracing this knowledge will not only help us see ourselves and our goals more accurately, but also do wonders for our grit.
5. Never Give Up
This last one sounds so cliché but it’s unbelievable the amount of fight, persistence and perseverance that all the successful people demonstrate over the course of their journey. No amount of setbacks and failures can stop them from waking up each morning and getting ready for work.
They are determined that it takes to be successful and completely understand that it’s not about instant gratification but who can persevere through the most crap. They have a last-man-standing-wins mentality. The day s/he gives up is the day that s/he will be in the coffin.
Conclusion
Precisely, our success depends on how our thought process gets translated into another’s reality so that we see what we see. Sometimes people can’t get out of their own way to do that well. From expressing emotions to sharing information, from creativity to logical perception, it can feel like we are juggling too many ideas to communicate clearly.
Whether we are looking at the big picture or analyzing details, uncovering potential opportunities or revealing personal biases that might distract, we can all benefit from learning new ways to see and think if making an impact and influencing others is our intention. Finally, keep in mind what futurist Daniel Burrus said: Your view of the future shapes your actions today, and your actions today shape your future.
About the Author
Muhammad Sajwani is the Founder and Managing Director of Evolve HR which aims at transforming, enriching and evolving Human Capital of Pakistan, Evolve HR thrives in challenging assumptions that hinder organisational aspirations, by creating innovative solutions that yield maximum impact, scalability & benefit to a wider base of stakeholders. As a Business Coach and Organisational Consultant, Sajwani knows how to combine business insights with people insights to transform organisations and put them on the path to growth.
