What You’re Keeping Track Of

I’ve got a list of past failures. Given that I fail often, it’s a long one.

What are you keeping track of? The number of times you’ve failed, guessed wrong, invested in the wrong stock, passed on pursuing an invention?

Much more productive – and I’m working on this myself – to keep track of our successes.

Sure, learn from the failures and the paths not taken, but why hold onto them. Better to remind ourselves of when we were right, what worked, when we took risks and turned out to succeed by doing so.

It’s a tough list to make, but worth the investment of attention.

 

Stay Positive & Focusing On The Good Attracts More Good

Fuel To Your Flame

Fuel To Your Flame

Imagine if you had the control to throw anything you wanted into a fire and it would burn.

A rock. Water. Cat litter. All fuel for the fire.

The fire in your belly, the passion you have, the mindset you’re igniting is a lot like the world I just asked you to imagine.

You have the choice to accept criticism as fuel to your flame. “Who is even going to listen to you two talk [on your podcast]?” was the most recent comment I’ve gotten. (The answer is probably no one, but I’m not letting that stop me from producing the show. Maybe you can help prove her wrong in March when Michael and I launch In The Box podcast. Anyway, back on point…)

You can craft the belief Walter Bagehot had: the greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do. I take people’s doubt and let it drive me not just to prove them wrong, but to prove myself right. It works for the most part.

You can turn what the trolls say (including the troll inside your head) and use it as fuel to work smarter, try harder, and prove you can do what others (and sometimes yourself) don’t believe you can do.

It’s an option, of course. It’s on you to decide how you take things. Will you take them personally? Or as fuel to your flame?

 

Stay Positive & Onward, Light’em Up

Two Of The Biggest Reasons You Stay Stuck

Get Unstuck

Two of the biggest reasons you stay stuck and don’t do anything is fear of inadequacy and fear of failure.

You may be good at many things, but a master of none. No matter what you do, it won’t be good enough. Have you felt this before?

Failure can suck too, but that is a mindset one has about failure.

Ask someone who has never failed before and they will say failure is terrible, just absolutely terrible. Ask someone who has failed plenty of times, me for instance, and I will say failure is necessary, it’s a stepping stone, and… I’m alive.

Staying stuck is a choice. Being afraid is a dance. You can’t stay stuck if you’re moving, can’t stay stuck if you’re dancing with the fear that pursues you.

 

Stay Positive & People Die Standing Still

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The Most Important Mindset For Building Your Skill Set

The Most Important Mindset For Building Your Skill Set

Mindset, Skill set, Success

There’s a particular mindset that makes you indispensable, a true linchpin.

It is a commitment to see a project through.

I’ve had (emphasis on past tense) team members who started a project with me, but then ran away when real work was in order.

We’ve all had people tell us they will do something, then fail to do it.

I’ve made my own mistakes of sitting back, too. A perfect example is Curb Magazine.

As managing editor, I’m involved in the entire process of making a magazine from scratch. From philosophy ideation, all the way through the launch and distribution of the final product. I work with four different teams (editorial, online, creative, and business) to reach distribution.

After we submit our design to the press house, and before distribution, the press house gives our publisher a proof copy of what they will print. Instead of getting involved in the last proofing process (the last chance to make any corrections to the magazine), I let my other team leaders handle it.

I didn’t see the process through, and, as a result of leaving the rest of the project to them (and no insult to their talent), two words are missing at the bottom of the first page of my story in the printed version of the magazine… all 10,000 of our one-time printed version. #lessonlearned

All of the skills businesses, companies, agencies, and leaders look for… they all make up the mindset of one’s commitment to a project, to their work, to passion.

When you get in the habit of seeing things all the way through, there’s no doubt you learn and strengthen all the skills employers and team members look for.

When you don’t follow through, you bring everyone down and hold yourself back.

 

Stay Positive & They’re Not Kidding When They Say Success Is A Mindset, Not A Skill List

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When Things Don’t Go Your Way

It happens plenty of times over. Things don’t go your way. Typically, you get upset, frustrated, hurt, emotional, skeptical, hesitant, and any other negative emotion until the next day.

Your mind thinks, “Well, this sucks. Tomorrow better be a better day.” And of course, this most commonly happens in the morning or afternoon of the day – with plenty of time to turn the bad day around. But no. You’ve already decided that since something didn’t go your way, your entire day is ruined.

From plenty of experience, I’ve learned something remarkable. When things don’t go your way and you sort of ignore it, you will end up getting other tasks done you have wanted to do, or something positive happens – maybe a friend calls to share the news that she is pregnant and they have chosen you to be the godfather – and your day ends up being great.

The only reason days don’t end up great when something doesn’t go your way is when you acknowledge that you will then have a bad day because of it.

Dispute it all you want, but our days are naturally set to be good. It’s our mindset that alters that. Lucky for you, you have control over your mindset.

The easiest way to alter your mindset, to reset your day to naturally good, to give fate another shot when things don’t go your way, is to ignore that they didn’t.

Stay Positive & Carry On

Garth E. Beyer