“The problem is all inside your head, she said to me . . .”
When Paul Simon penned those words to Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover, he wasn’t talking about business success—but he could have been. There is no asset that plays a greater role in determining your success in business and life than your mindset and the attitude with which you face the obstacles confronting you.
Don’t get me wrong. Things like proper planning, creativity, drive, innovation, the right people, and adequate resources are all critical to business success. “Thinking happy thoughts” isn’t going to get you where you want to go. But your mindset—how you view your situation—is critical in determining how you’ll bring all your other resources to bear on your goals.
Where do you live, in your mind’s eye?
Do you live in the Land of Limitations? Is your initial reaction to a business problem to focus on your shortcomings or your lack of resources? Do you see what can’t be done? Does your fear of failure restrict your success?
Perhaps you reside in the Mire of Mediocrity. Do you settle for “good enough” or do you have the tenacity to insist on better—or even great? The business world is still mourning the passing of Steve Jobs. What made Jobs (and his company) great was not just his creativity. He refused to settle for “OK.” He built things that he wanted to use—and he had extremely high expectations.
Or do you live on the Path of Possibilities? It’s a journey. It’s constantly unfolding. Do you look at problems and wonder, ‘What would happen if …?’ You know the old cliché: “Are you part of the solution or part of the problem?” Guess what? Whatever you choose goes a long way to determining your success—both in business and in life.
There are plenty of things that can keep you from being great. Check out 106 Excuses That Prevent You From Ever Becoming Great and see if any of these excuses remind you of someone you know!
The key to greatness starts in your mind. Where is your head?