Mindset

“Watch your thoughts; for they become words. Watch your words; for they become actions. Watch your actions; for they become habits. Watch your habits; for they become character. Watch your character for it will become your destiny.” – Frank Outlaw

This quote has really helped remind me how my thoughts affect my business. I truly believe that mindset is a key component to achievement, not only professionally, but spiritually, financially, and physically as well. And what I’ve learned through a few books is that if you take a deliberate approach to the subject, you can purposefully change your mindset to align with those that are incredibly successful. Here are two books that discuss the topic.

mindset. the new psychology of success: “If you have the fixed mindset, you believe that your talents and abilities are set in stone–either you have them or you don’t. You must prove yourself over and over, trying to look smart and talented at all costs. This is the path of stagnation. If you have a growth mindset, however, you know that talents can be developed and that great abilities are built over time. This is the path of opportunity-and success. Perhaps even more important, Carol Dweck shows us how we can change our mindset at any stage of life to achieve true success and fulfillment.”

The Happiness Advantage: “Our most commonly held formula for success is broken. Conventional wisdom holds that if we work hard we will be more successful, and if we are more successful, then we’ll be happy. If we can just find that great job, win that next promotion, lose those five pounds, happiness will follow. But recent discoveries in the field of positive psychology have shown that this formula is actually backward: Happiness fuels success, not the other way around. When we are positive, our brains become more engaged, creative, motivated, energetic, resilient, and productive at work. This isn’t just an empty mantra. This discovery has been repeatedly borne out by rigorous research in psychology and neuroscience, management studies, and the bottom lines of organizations around the globe. Shawn Achor draws on his own research and explains how we can reprogram our brains to become more positive in order to gain a competitive edge.”

Both of these books have definitely helped me be more purposeful when it comes to my thoughts, actions, and habits. A positive approach to life and a hunger/willingness to learn have been instrumental to both my happiness and to my accomplishments, thus far. For those that haven’t read these two books, I encourage you to read them, and employ the principles into every aspect of your life.

Written by Stuart Grazier