It’s that time of year when everyone is working on their goals. Do me a favor and put that pen down. There’s something you must do first: Work on your mind.
I recently heard Dr. Melanie Jay, an associate professor at NYU, say, “Mindset is how we feel about ourselves as human beings and how we talk about ourselves.” Her words inspired this post as I stopped to consider how mindset affects our ability to accomplish our goals. I believe the key to unlocking our full potential first requires a self-assessment of these feelings and conversations, and only then, are we ready for a goal-setting exercise.
Many high achievers who have left their mark on society started with a vision. And since mindset and vision are closely related, especially on the path to professional and personal growth, I want us to consider Walt Disney, who dreamed of building an entertainment empire that would last for generations. Reading his book, he showed up in Hollywood with only forty dollars in his pocket, yet there was so much more in his mind that would soon manifest into reality.
Shifting to a growth mindset marks the beginning of your journey to unlocking success. Our minds are the lens through which we view the world that shapes our thoughts, decisions, and actions. A close friend once called the human mind a quiet builder of our reality. I liked that, and in such a capacity, it can help us decide if building a mansion on a hill is even possible. I submit it’s not unless we work on reshaping our minds, which lays the foundation for whatever we wish to accomplish. Once we get that out of the way, we can move to the next phase, creating meaningful milestones that will move us forward. These milestones are not just endpoints but footprints on our path, each a testament to our progress and determination.
One of the tenets of the Get Sticky™ program is that a goal must be “broken into pieces.” This allows you to put what may seem like an unattainable goal on paper until you identify the steps that lead to achievement. This process strengthens your core belief and lays the pathway to success.
It bears repeating that all the planning in the world cannot eliminate issues and challenges that might come your way. Their absence may even indicate your goal wasn’t “stretchy” enough. Shift your perspective on encountering hurdles and unexpected deviations and become more resilient during hardships. Walt Disney experienced setbacks when he lost the rights to his first animated star, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Did that stop him? No, he allowed this event to morph into lessons that would take him to his next creation, Mickey Mouse.
Remember to start with mindset, and begin to value your vision and thoughts. Use mistakes as stepping stones instead of obstacles, and you’ll begin to see growth and development along your path.
Keep Striving!
JM
