avatarKurtis Pykes

Summary

The article outlines three mindsets essential for achieving top-tier success in any field: embracing limitless potential, a commitment to doing whatever it takes, and long-term thinking.

Abstract

The path to becoming part of the elite 1% in any field is paved with specific mindsets. The first is the belief in unlimited potential, transcending traditional boundaries and fostering the ability to dream big, which in turn provides clarity and focus on the necessary actions to achieve those dreams. The second mindset is the "whatever it takes" approach, which involves a relentless work ethic and the willingness to endure hardships to reach one's goals, as exemplified by high achievers like Kobe Bryant and Muhammad Ali. The third is a long-term perspective, which emphasizes strategic planning and decision-making for sustained success, illustrated by Jeff Bezos' foresight in creating Amazon. These mindsets collectively enable individuals to rise above the average and secure a place among the top performers.

Opinions

  • The author suggests that a growth mindset, as opposed to a fixed mindset, is crucial for success, aligning with Carol Dweck's research.
  • Dreaming big is presented as a way to narrow down one's options, making goals more achievable by providing a clear path to follow.
  • The article emphasizes that success requires a willingness to sacrifice and endure hard work, rejecting the notion that success comes without a price.
  • It is posited that prioritizing actions based on their contribution to one's ultimate goals, as demonstrated by Ben Hunt-Davis' "Will it make the boat go faster?" philosophy, is key to high performance.
  • The "whatever it takes" mindset is not just about hard work but also about making smart decisions and being open to learning from others.
  • The importance of long-term planning is highlighted, with the belief that greatness is not accidental but the result of deliberate, strategic actions.
  • The author implies that adopting these mindsets is not just beneficial but necessary to become the best in one's field.

These 3 Mindsets Will Put You in the Top 1% of Any Field

How to Become the Best at What You Do

Image created by author using Midjourney

Your mindset is the foundation of everything you do.

It determines the outcomes you get and also impacts how you make sense of the world and yourself.

This is why Carol Dweck went to great lengths to explain the differences between growth and fixed mindsets.

If the way you think is fruitless and limited, such will be your output.

If you think possibility and abundance, it will show in your results.

In other words, you don’t get far with a shitty mindset.

Mindset is the biggest difference between the 1% and the rest of the population.

They think differently, believe different things, and have different attitudes.

If you wanna step into the top 1% of your field, there’s 3 key mindsets you must adopt…

#1 The sky is not the limit

“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” — Steve Jobs

The seed of a 1%er is the ability to dream.

Dreams help you define a path to get to where you wanna go.

The bigger the dream, the clearer the path.

In the book 10x is Easier Than 2x, Benjamin Hardy, PhD states:

“The higher and more specific your goals and standards become, the fewer options you have — which counterintuitively, actually makes them easier to achieve.”

In other words, big dreams don’t allow you to do whatever you want.

For example, there’s only a few things you can do to get a seven-figure book deal — it would likely include growing a large following you could use as leverage.

Defining a massive dream helps you to prioritize your actions and make better decisions.

It enables you to filter every move you make through the lens of whether it contributes to attaining your dream.

This is exactly what Ben Hunt-Davis, the captain of the British national men’s rowing team, did…

Back in 1998, the team faced consistent setbacks and failures.

To overcome these troubles, Ben Hunt-Davis came up with a simple rule.

Every decision or activity the team participated in had to receive a resounding “Yes” to the question, “Will it make the boat go faster?

If it was “No,” the activity was scrapped.

Joining the 1% requires a high-level of mental clarity — hence the necessity of a big dream.

There must be no bounds to what you believe you can achieve.

This is what Muhammad Ali meant when he said, “If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it.

The sky is not the limit because the sky is limitless.

If you believe you can, then you will.

#2 Whatever it takes

“I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses.” — Kobe Byrant

There’s a price to pay for anything you want in life.

The more scarce your desires, the more you’ve gotta pay — it’s simple supply and demand.

While most people sit around and make excuses, the top 1% get their heads down and get to work.

They know complaining won’t get them the results they want.

Muhammad Ali, once again, brilliantly captured this mindset when he said, “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’

If you wanna join the 1%, you must be prepared to pay the price.

This means you must be willing to do whatever it takes — which often includes putting yourself through turmoil.

The “whatever it takes” mindset is about not settling for mediocrity and doing what you’ve gotta do with conviction.

Whether that means shutting up and listening to someone with more experience than you or staying up late to knock out a project, you’ve just gotta do it.

Another good example is Kobe Bryant…

He used to wake up at 4 a.m. to do what he had to do to become one of the greatest basketball players of all time since he was in high school.

By the time his teammates got to the gym for training, he’d already completed hours of practice.

These small gains compounded over time until he was recognized as the GOAT of his time.

The 1% have an unwavering commitment to finding a way.

If you wanna join em, you must do too.

#3 Think long-term

“If You Fail to Plan, You Are Planning to Fail” — Benjamin Franklin

Before a builder works on a new development, an architect must design how it looks, inside and out.

Without this step, the builder will likely make several mistakes that may result in ballooning costs or, worse, a fatal incident.

Life design is no different…

Before joining the 1%, you need a clear plan.

Jeff Bezos did this in 1994 — before leaving his role as vice president at a prominent Wall Street firm…

He had a unique insight after reading a report that projected a 2,300% industry growth rate for the internet.

Mind you, this came at a time when the internet was unfamiliar to most Americans.

Bezos began working on a business plan for what eventually became Amazon and made him the wealthiest man on the planet from 2017 to 2021.

Greatness doesn’t happen by accident.

You don’t stumble your way into the top 1% of a field.

Anyone in the top 1% had a plan to get there, and that’s because they all know this one secret…

You make much better decisions when you’re thinking about the long term.

A long-term strategy is required to reduce uncertainty, set priorities, and efficiently use resources.

If you’re serious about becoming a 1%er, you must define your action plan.

Final thoughts

The 1% are where they are because they think, act, and process information differently.

This all stems from the 3 mindsets they adopted before joining the 1%.

Those 3 mindsets include:

· #1 The sky is not the limit · #2 Whatever it takes · #3 Think long-term

You must adopt them to stand a chance of becoming the best at what you do.

Thanks for reading!

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Mindset
Self Improvement
Growth
Personal Development
Success
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