The 4 mindsets that separate high-achievers from the mediocre

What do successful people believe in that makes them high-achievers? I have found that there’s a common set of beliefs and mindsets shared by some in society that have led them to success, while most others still walk the earth with relative normalcy. These beliefs and mindsets are so effective because they allow you to look at obstacles as opportunities, serve as daily reminders to put your best foot forward, and unlock the potential within. Reflecting upon my personal life, I’ve definitely accomplished more when I have taken these beliefs to heart.

1. Failure is an opportunity for growth

Successful people are optimistic in the sense that they don’t view failure as a stifling force. They don’t take failure seriously either. Of course, no one wants to fail and failure is scary and uncomfortable for everyone. However, what separates the successful from the mediocre is that the former leverage failure as an opportunity to grow, whilst the latter use failure as an excuse to give up. The most successful people are also the ones who have ‘failed’ the most, yet they use their failures to empower themselves to improve. People who don’t fail are those who don’t step outside their comfort zone, which means that they also deprive themselves of opportunities for growth.

2. I’m 100% responsible for my own life

Successful people understand that the outcomes of their lives are fully determined by their actions. Whereas, average people tend to point fingers and blame things outside of their control for their failures, common excuses being:

• “I don’t have enough time.” You have 24 hours in a day, just like Elon Musk and everyone else.
• “I’m not born with a high IQ.” Find opportunities to improve your knowledge and skills. Opportunities are always in abundance if you look for them hard enough.
• “If only I was rich.” Many millionaires started off with nothing, like J.K Rowling and Dan Lok.
• “If only my family and friends supported my dreams.” Back yourself up and prove to them that you are capable of realizing your goals.

To the person who makes up excuses and blames everything else but themselves for mediocracy; quit feeling sorry for yourself and find ways to overcome your setbacks.

Taking a closer look at these excuses, you’ll realise how irrational and plain stupid they are. While these excuses shift responsibility away from you and can make you feel better about yourself, they are dangerously self-limiting. You are subconsciously telling yourself that you are a hopeless person, which robs you of your willpower and potential to overcome challenges and grow.

3. I’m a lifelong learner

Successful people are above-average because they constantly seek learning, no matter what age. A common misconception that hinders growth is that learning is only reserved for school, and you’re done with learning once you’ve graduated from college.

This attitude towards learning is simply false. If anything, the most valuable lessons you learn happen in the real world, not in artificially cultivated learning environments like schools.

Successful people are naturally curious and are always driven to learn, whether it’s to improve their skills or expertise. Understanding the value of it, they often make daily habits that stimulate learning, such as reading and completing side projects.

They also constantly seek feedback and are eager to improve. Average people often take feedback personally and as a result, avoid it to preserve their ego. Whereas, high-achievers recognize that they don’t know everything, so they use feedback as a tool to better themselves.

4. I’m willing to step outside of my comfort zone and take risks

Successful people understand that growth happens in the face of discomfort. This is why they actively seek challenges and try to crush them. They know that doing difficult things means there’s a risk of failing, and failure often comes with peer judgement and embarrassment. Regardless, they willingly suffer from short-term discomfort and sacrifices to reap long-term achievement. They’ll do the risky thing if they have to in order to achieve their goals, instead of staying on the safe side just so they don’t ‘lose’.

Taking the first step towards success

Some of the world’s most successful individuals started off as ordinary people with similar living circumstances to you and me. However, what really made them rise to the top has a lot to do with their mentality.

Here’s what you can do to start transitioning from normalcy to being a high-achiever.

• Be self-aware. Keep an eye on your internal dialogue. Whenever you catch yourself acting like a victim, letting your ego blind you from learning, or being too complacent, replace these self-limiting attitudes with a growth mentality.
• Don’t take failure personally. Tell yourself that the failure wasn’t because you are ‘stupid’ or ‘incapable’. All you did was make some mistakes, which is okay as long as you learn from them.
• Remind yourself that your successes and failures are entirely a result of your actions. When things don’t go your way, don’t let the victim mentality take over.
• Get used to thinking and acting differently from others. When you pursue your ambitions, many people won’t get it and they will discourage you. The average person is unlikely to share a growth mindset, which is why they are, well, average.

Success is merely dependent on natural intelligence, wealth, or luck. In fact, a person who was born into a rich family, but lacks a growth mindset, probably won’t be near as successful as someone with the right mind. These mindsets, plus a strong work ethic, is how success is really made.