Written by: Dianne McKim, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
How we approach our work and life has a huge impact on our success.
I recently read an article that got me thinking about the outcome of how we approach situations, challenges, or projects. Why do some people seem to have success no matter what they attempt, and others seem to flounder?
Albert Einstein is known as a genius. However, here are a few facts about him you may not know: he had language challenges as a toddler, he dropped out of school at 15, and he struggled to find jobs early on. If I had known him then, I would not have thought he would amount to much. Yet, none of these things held him back. He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.
He is known to have said, “Success is a failure in progress.”
I love that thought. I suspect he had a “Yes, possible” mentality that helped him keep striving and ultimately develop the theory of general relativity.
Many people struggle to succeed because they are a “No, can’t” person instead of a “Yes, possible” person.
A “No, can’t” person looks at what is before them and finds all the reasons not to proceed, or why things won’t work, or why they can’t accomplish something. A “Yes, possible” person does just the opposite. Where some say impossible, they say, Yes, but what if it is possible.
The “Yes possible” person doesn’t quit because, at the moment, they don’t see how something will happen. They persist and persevere and allow themselves the freedom to fail on their way to succeeding.
Continuing to try and try again may just be what we all need to overcome the successful obstacles we often face along the way.
I know even in my own life, I had times when the work before me seemed beyond my ability and all I could think is I can’t do this. With this thought replaying in my head, I was not able to see that I had the capability and ability to actually do what was before me. As I grew, matured, learned, and understood my true identity, my ability to move past my own negative roadblocks developed. Now, when those negative roadblocks try to rise up, I know I can take steps to overcome them and keep moving forward.
So what can you do to shift from a “No, can’t” mindset to a “Yes, possible” mindset?
1. Be intentional - setting your mind on accomplishing what is before you is great if you are intentional. Leaving things to chance won’t cut it. So, that project you have been assigned or that work that needs to get completed must be part of your focus.
2. Schedule actions - breaking the project or work down into actionable steps helps you see that it is possible to achieve the finished result you are working to have.
3. Persevere - don’t give up if you hit roadblocks or obstacles along the way. You may have to get creative or brainstorm with others to come up with a workaround. In this way, you begin to see possibilities and you grow in the process.
4. Breathe - taking deep diaphragmatic breaths is important, especially when we feel stressed. Breathing like this lowers your heart rate and blood pressure while it helps reduce your stress level. Reducing stress can help you focus on the work at hand with better clarity.
5. Visualize - consider the result you are looking for in the project and try to visualize the finished product. What does it look like? How do you feel when it is completed? What are the benefits of completing the work? As you visualize the outcome, you will become more confident in yourself, and that will get you energized to keep going.
With these approaches in play, your “No, can’t” thoughts will shift to the “Yes, possible” thoughts, and success is sure to follow.
Dianne McKim, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Dianne McKim is a leader in personal, professional, and spiritual coaching. She has the depth of experience, training, and certifications to provide her clients the transformation they need to excel. Whether your team needs to maximize productivity and cohesiveness, your underperforming employee needs help to improve, you need help in life to overcome obstacles, or you desire to move forward from whatever is holding you back, Dianne is the coach who can make it happen. Her clients say it best "If you are looking for someone who will help you grow as an individual, work better with a team, or simply get “unstuck” and discover your purpose for being, Dianne will certainly challenge you and work with the unique individual/organization you are."
