Six Ways Successful People Think Differently

Successful people hail from all walks of life and shades of experience, yet they all have one thing in common: where others see impenetrable barriers, they see challenges to embrace and obstacles to overcome. Their confidence in the face of adversity is driven by their ability to let go of the fear, negativity and self-doubt that holds so many others back. Take the “household names” of the business world – Bill Gates, Thomas Edison, Jay Z, Stephen King, Oprah Winfrey and Tony Robbins – all wildly successful individuals who profess that success comes down to one thing – mindset. They set real life examples of the true power of persistence, defying the odds, and in some cases, turning around the most dire of circumstances.

When studying the success mindset of not only the big names, but the entrepreneurs and business owners around us, it is clear they each share a common success DNA that drives them to continuously analyse and challenge the way they think. Learning from mistakes, growing out of failure, seeing obstacles as opportunities rather than roadblocks, and believing they can achieve. Successful people don’t reside themselves to the preconceived notion of the “writing on the wall”, they dig deep to find grit, determination and belief that the future is theirs to manifest.

So how can you implement the “success” mindset? Here are six tips to challenge the way you think and use each situation as an opportunity to move closer towards your goals.

Have a clear vision

The most successful people have a clear vision of the life they want to live, and the goals they wish to achieve. Most don’t stop at this though, their vision becomes what each day revolves around. It isn’t about huge daily wins, the small steps are also incredibly important in working towards that vision. Successful people write out their goals which define this vision, creating intention which keeps them subconsciously accountable.

Take risks

Gamble big, win big. But only fools rush in. People who achieve greatness take calculated risks. Fear and doubt hold people back from achieving their dreams, yet both are the worst enemy to discovering the extent of one’s true potential. In the words of Gareth O’Callaghan: “Do not fear risk. All exploration, all growth is calculated. Without challenge, people cannot reach their higher selves. Only if we are willing to leap over the edge can we experience what is on the other side”?

Be disciplined

The key to success in any aspect of your life is that you must be disciplined. Routine is your best friend and most successful people can talk to this. Whether it be starting the day with a workout, affirmations, reading, visualisations or meditation, those who succeed professionally build routine into their lives to help structure their mindsets. Strive to be disciplined in everything you do, especially when it comes to your weak points. Everyone has areas they struggle with, you don’t need to be perfect, just committed to consistency.

Keep learning

They say curiosity killed the cat, but no successful person will tell you that. Where some people may feel asking questions could damage their ego, successful people are constantly using their curiosity to learn from situations, and learn from others. Einstein reflected on the human tool of curiosity when he stated “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious”. Use curiosity as an invaluable tool to keep learning and evolving; it’s this constant learning process which often manifests success.

Accept failures.

Should’a, Could’a, Would’a. Failing is often a hard jab at your dignity, leaving you wondering (and possibly losing sleep over) what you did wrong and why it didn’t work out. Experiencing failure is a tough learning curve that successful people will embrace as an opportunity to learn and grow. If you can extract the lessons, you’ll bounce back bigger, badder, better. Just think, had Walt Disney not been fired from a newspaper because he lacked imagination and good ideas, our favourite childhood Disney cartoons may never have come to life. Failure is required in order to find the perfect recipe for success, embrace it and learn from your mistakes. And keep learning.

Always progress

Success is a never ending circle; once one goal is achieved, there will soon be another challenge to complete or another hurdle to leap over. Successful people have an overarching vision of what they want their life to be like and create a path to this by continuously kicking smaller goals. Even if you do not believe it is possible, always strive for something bigger and better than what you just obtained.