For some, this is a delicate topic. Some of you may be offended, even
though that is not my intention.
This subject is rarely addressed in the way I have laid out. By addressing it, I understand the
potential consequences. Speaking
bluntly on the topic could result in hate mail or silent adversaries. Nevertheless, the intent is to create
an awakening.
though that is not my intention.
This subject is rarely addressed in the way I have laid out. By addressing it, I understand the
potential consequences. Speaking
bluntly on the topic could result in hate mail or silent adversaries. Nevertheless, the intent is to create
an awakening.
With that said, when I say ‘where you are’, it has nothing
to do with
to do with
physical proximity. It
has to do with mindset. There are
various mindsets. Some minds focus
on difficulty; others on impossibility.
While some minds focus on constant development, there are others who’re
committed to successful achievement.
And there are a multitude of nuances within each. In all likelihood, the mindset that got
you to where you are will not get you to where you want to be.
If you want to know your current mindset, listen to the
conversations of your family and closest friends. If they complain often, there’s a chance you do the
same. People who complain a lot
rarely ask for what they want.
They focus on what they don’t want. Because they have not articulated what they do want, they
often get more of what they don’t want.
This mindset can produce tremendous frustration with very little
accomplishment. When it does
accomplish something, it’s usually mediocre. Or there is enormous pressure and they produce one-time
extraordinary results. After that,
they go back to complaining. As
for accomplishment, they talk about and live off the one great thing they did
in the past.
conversations of your family and closest friends. If they complain often, there’s a chance you do the
same. People who complain a lot
rarely ask for what they want.
They focus on what they don’t want. Because they have not articulated what they do want, they
often get more of what they don’t want.
This mindset can produce tremendous frustration with very little
accomplishment. When it does
accomplish something, it’s usually mediocre. Or there is enormous pressure and they produce one-time
extraordinary results. After that,
they go back to complaining. As
for accomplishment, they talk about and live off the one great thing they did
in the past.
If you listen to the complainer, he
usually sees himself as a victim.
Unlike the mindset of high achievers, complainers have been programmed
by their environment to constantly find something wrong. High achievers, on the other hand, are
often seeking to produce some unprecedented result, like breaking a world
record. Many corporations hire
college and Olympic athletes.
They’re seeking people who can transfer high performance to another career. They may also want people who
understand how to be a team player.
usually sees himself as a victim.
Unlike the mindset of high achievers, complainers have been programmed
by their environment to constantly find something wrong. High achievers, on the other hand, are
often seeking to produce some unprecedented result, like breaking a world
record. Many corporations hire
college and Olympic athletes.
They’re seeking people who can transfer high performance to another career. They may also want people who
understand how to be a team player.
If you observe teams that perform poorly, you’ll hear them
complain about team members, coaches, equipment, etc. The list goes on ad nausea. As a result, they’ll most likely be embedded in
dysfunction. However, they won’t
see the dysfunction. It’ll always
appear that circumstances are the source of their problems. Instead of training and developing to
be the best, they squander practice and focus on what’s wrong. They may even forego practice so they
can voice their complaints. For
them, they may believe their complaints are accomplishments. Except, when they’re done complaining,
they’ll be in the same exact place they were before the complaint. When they continue to get what they
don’t want, their complaints become more aggressive.
complain about team members, coaches, equipment, etc. The list goes on ad nausea. As a result, they’ll most likely be embedded in
dysfunction. However, they won’t
see the dysfunction. It’ll always
appear that circumstances are the source of their problems. Instead of training and developing to
be the best, they squander practice and focus on what’s wrong. They may even forego practice so they
can voice their complaints. For
them, they may believe their complaints are accomplishments. Except, when they’re done complaining,
they’ll be in the same exact place they were before the complaint. When they continue to get what they
don’t want, their complaints become more aggressive.
The dirty secret is they have presupposed nothing ever works
for them. As long as they can
prove nothing works, they do not have to be responsible for becoming high
performers. Fortunately, though,
no one is born with that mindset.
It is learned. Therefore,
it can be unlearned.
for them. As long as they can
prove nothing works, they do not have to be responsible for becoming high
performers. Fortunately, though,
no one is born with that mindset.
It is learned. Therefore,
it can be unlearned.
The contagiousness of this mindset not only happens with
teams, it happens in communities.
Once the team or community believes their current circumstances are the
result of someone else, they will assign responsibility to another. Without responsibility, the contagion
will continue to claim new candidates without mercy.
teams, it happens in communities.
Once the team or community believes their current circumstances are the
result of someone else, they will assign responsibility to another. Without responsibility, the contagion
will continue to claim new candidates without mercy.
When you’re immersed in this mindset, it’s difficult to see
the trap. And it could appear disruptive
or uncomfortable to step out of it.
First, you have to understand there’s nothing wrong with this
mindset. It’s simply one way your
environment taught you to see the world.
Second, examine whether or not it produces the results you want. If so, continue. If not, you may have to accept that it
could be an inappropriate mindset for your future accomplishments.
the trap. And it could appear disruptive
or uncomfortable to step out of it.
First, you have to understand there’s nothing wrong with this
mindset. It’s simply one way your
environment taught you to see the world.
Second, examine whether or not it produces the results you want. If so, continue. If not, you may have to accept that it
could be an inappropriate mindset for your future accomplishments.
Why is this topic relevant in 2017? If you take the black American
community, for example, they’ve been protesting for decades. The results have been the same, which
has them constantly protesting about the same thing. In other words, protesting has never worked. Perhaps if the black community took
their mind off of what they believe is wrong, they could focus on desirable
outcomes. Instead of protesting,
which is a form of complaining, train and develop self. If you look at Black Wall Street, it
was not the result of protesting.
People who were committed to economic empowerment built it. What mindset do you need to build?
community, for example, they’ve been protesting for decades. The results have been the same, which
has them constantly protesting about the same thing. In other words, protesting has never worked. Perhaps if the black community took
their mind off of what they believe is wrong, they could focus on desirable
outcomes. Instead of protesting,
which is a form of complaining, train and develop self. If you look at Black Wall Street, it
was not the result of protesting.
People who were committed to economic empowerment built it. What mindset do you need to build?
While it’s easy to understand how to apply training to
sports, it may be counterintuitive to train for life and business. To do that, it’s no different than
playing sports. It requires
unlearning bad habits, practicing actions that produce results, creating new
possibilities and a mindset that supports it.
sports, it may be counterintuitive to train for life and business. To do that, it’s no different than
playing sports. It requires
unlearning bad habits, practicing actions that produce results, creating new
possibilities and a mindset that supports it.
In the face of
recent events in Charlottesville, people may be inclined to display greater
dissatisfaction with the system.
In all likelihood, that may be a dead end, at worst. At best, it can lead to being
placated. If the black community
is committed to economic power, that would be a different path than
complaining. And it would require
a team effort. How do you prepare, train, develop, manage and create a mindset
to build economic power? Since it hasn’t happened in recent US history,
it’s time to realize you can’t get there from where you are.
recent events in Charlottesville, people may be inclined to display greater
dissatisfaction with the system.
In all likelihood, that may be a dead end, at worst. At best, it can lead to being
placated. If the black community
is committed to economic power, that would be a different path than
complaining. And it would require
a team effort. How do you prepare, train, develop, manage and create a mindset
to build economic power? Since it hasn’t happened in recent US history,
it’s time to realize you can’t get there from where you are.
What do you
think? I would love to hear your feedback. And I’m open to ideas.
Or if you want to write me about a specific topic, let me know.
think? I would love to hear your feedback. And I’m open to ideas.
Or if you want to write me about a specific topic, let me know.