Looking Forward: Three Steps to Keep Your Eyes on Success
This is my third blog article in a series about my favorite topics: failure and the mindset you need when overcoming it. But you won’t see the word failure in this title. That’s because we will finish this series focusing on what you can take away from failure – success, and stories to share. I’ve previously written about what it means to have a Growth Mindset and how you can view failures as a positive – by Failing Forward. After you have begun to view your trials and failures as assets – and I genuinely believe failures should be viewed that way – you are ready to build on those assets and share their value with others. You can use these three steps to get there. Step [...]
Failing Forward: Why Failure is Important for Success
I’ve previously written about what it means to have a “Growth Mindset" in my last blog, "How to Fail Forward with a Growth Mindset Professionally and Personally." Those who view obstacles and failures as opportunities to grow have a distinct advantage over those with a “fixed mindset,” characterized by a fraught ability to move on after failures. But more importantly, how can we implement a growth mindset? And if you think you already have one, what can you do to sharpen that critical skill? Let’s look at how to take failures with the seriousness they deserve but still “put them in their place” as building blocks rather than mental hurdles. Don’t Regret Action One of the most common reactions to failure is to regret even trying. Let’s address [...]
How to Fail Forward with a Growth Mindset Professionally and Personally
How to Fail Forward? “Adopt a Growth Mindset.” “Leave your fixed mindset behind and take on a growth mindset.” "Failure is not an option." "Failure is not an option." We’ve all heard these quips before and likely spent less than a minute contemplating what they mean. On the surface, the advice seems simple: you either feel stuck—fixed—or you grow. Not much else to understand, right? On the contrary, I believe it should be every business executive’s goal to spend some time thinking about what these terms mean and how they can be applied in their lives and leadership because these terms aren’t just about growing versus standing still. They are about one of my favorite subjects: failure. Let’s start by reviewing how these two characterizations of mindsets [...]
Is Your Networking Circle Elevating Your Success? If Not, This Is For You.
Our goal of this series is to create a culture of connection by forming relationships that elevate your success. In the first blog, Show Me Your Friends, and I’ll Show You Your Future. How to Build Strategic Relationships and Networks, you created a personalized framework of what you need in a networking circle in order to grow. Then you used the framework to identify how you can create a culture of success by forming your circle in the second blog, Outgrowing Your Networking Circle? Do This to Create an Environment for Success. In this final part of my “Show me your circle, I’ll show you your future” series, I will discuss the ongoing review of that circle—the relationship circle: both personally and professionally. We need to take responsibility for [...]
Outgrowing Your Networking Circle? Do This to Create an Environment for Success.
In this blog series, Show Me Your Friends, I’ll Show You Your future, our goal is to build and sustain a networking circle that positions you to be a leader, form relationships with influential people, and become the greatest version of yourself. In the first blog, How to Build Strategic Relationships and Networks, I taught you how to identify your value system and think about how the people in your current circle fit in it. The phrase, "Show me your friends, I’ll show you your future,” means knowing yourself: your morals, your ethics, your character, and surrounding yourself with people who similarly view life. When I see your friends, it will give me tremendous insight into who you are. Think of these people as your team. Your [...]
Show Me Your Friends, and I’ll Show You Your Future. How to Build Strategic Relationships and Networks
Today starts a 3-part series on building meaningful and strategic relationships and networks. Ok, let’s do this. Get out a piece of paper and a pencil. Write a list of everyone you are close to, both personally and professionally: family members, friends, work colleagues, clients, community. Anyone you feel is part of your many circles right now. It could be an extensive list. Take your time, and write it out. Look at that list. Underline the ones you are closest to. Your confidants: the ones you trust, the ones you feel have your back. Now, make a list of 1-10. Write out your most important values -- work ethics, spirituality, morals, character, etc. -- within yourself. Words like respect. Loyalty. Character. Courage. Love. Me? Giving is a [...]