As business leaders and entrepreneurs, the responsibility for our own growth and development ultimately falls upon us. It is our obligation to invest in ourselves, expand our skill sets and enhance our knowledge, ensuring that we remain competitive in today’s ever-changing world.

Strive to achieve personal mastery and professional excellence and you will achieve greatness. That requires a greater mindset, skillset and toolset.

A greater mindset

Your mindset either holds you back or unleashes your full potential, playing a crucial role in determining the trajectory of your life. A limiting mindset is characterised by thoughts that reinforce self-imposed boundaries and perpetuate the idea that opportunities are scarce.

This mindset can create a vicious cycle, where fear of failure and self-sabotage prevent you from realising your dreams and aspirations. If you cultivate a limiting mindset, you may find yourself trapped in self-doubt, fear and negative beliefs that hinder your growth and success.

On the other hand, an empowering mindset embraces possibilities, growth and continuous learning. By adopting this mindset, you develop the confidence to face challenges head-on, learn from your mistakes and consistently strive for self-improvement. An empowering mindset fosters a sense of purpose, determination and adaptability, which enables you to break free from constraints and achieve remarkable accomplishments.

By consciously cultivating an empowering mindset, you can overcome obstacles to unlock your true potential, fuelling your motivation, resilience and willingness to take risks in the pursuit of your goals and chart a path towards personal and professional success.

Only you can direct the focus of your thoughts. Your mindset will shape your life, as your thoughts, words and actions ultimately influence your actions, habits, character and destiny:

• Your thoughts become words.
• Your words become actions.
• Your actions become habits.
• Your habits become character.
• Your character becomes your destiny.

That’s profoundly simple and simply profound. Play close attention to your thoughts if you want to positively impact your destiny.

Six mindsets to liberate your greatness

1. Beginner’s mindset – Approach every situation with an open mind and without any preconceptions, eager to learn and grow while embracing curiosity and humility.
2. Growth mindset – Embrace challenges and see setbacks as opportunities for improvement. Carol Dweck is a renowned psychologist and professor at Stanford University, best known for her groundbreaking research on mindset, motivation and personal development. In her book, Mindset, she said, ‘In a growth mindset, challenges are exciting rather than threatening. So rather than thinking, “Oh, I’m going to reveal my weaknesses,” you say, “Wow, here’s a chance to grow.”’
3. CEO mindset – Take responsibility for your decisions, actions and results, leading with purpose and vision.
4. Solution-oriented mindset – Tackle challenges head-on, actively seeking and implementing solutions instead of dwelling on problems. Albert Einstein said, ‘It’s not that I’m so smart. I just stay with problems longer.’ His approach to problem solving was not to dwell on the problem in a way that created despair, but rather to spend quality time understanding it so he could find the solution. This mindset requires stamina and resilience. The more time and focus you give to understanding and solving a problem, the more obvious the solution becomes.

5. Abundance mindset – Focus on the limitless possibilities and opportunities, believing in the potential for success and fulfilment. Daniel Priestley, an entrepreneur and author said, ‘Someone has woken up today with the resources you need to succeed; you just need to find them.’ I love the connection between people with resources and people with needs. If we all acknowledge that opportunity daily with the courage to ask and to give, we’d be solving so many more problems in the world.
6. The ultimate soldier’s mindset – In Ant Middleton’s bestselling book, Mental Fitness, he says that ‘Your body gets you to the battlefield, but it’s your mind that wins the fight.’ Ant is a highly accomplished soldier, adventurer and leader who recognises the value of a strong, positive mindset. Condition your mind for mental fitness, so that you’re able to face challenges head-on, survive and thrive in any environment.

Conclusion

It is crucial to remember that your growth is ultimately your own responsibility. By taking ownership of your personal and professional development, you can unlock your full potential and pave the way for a future filled with success, significance and the ability to make a positive lasting impact in the world around you.

The journey to liberating your greatness begins with the understanding that your growth is your business. By continually investing in yourself, seeking new opportunities for learning, taking the time to reflect and improve, and embracing a mindset of continuous improvement, along with patience to master your skills and a spirit of excellence, you are fostering the conditions necessary for achieving personal mastery and professional excellence. In doing so, you are not only setting yourself up for a life of greatness but also inspiring those around you to do the same.

This is an adapted book extract from Liberate Your Greatness by John Roussot.