When I hire a team member, the most important criteria I look for in the candidates aren't their certifications, work experience, technical skills, or soft skills.
Do you know why?
Because – although experience and skills are valuable – they aren't the most essential ingredient of success. No, they aren't.
The most essential ingredient of success is actually 'Mindset.'
Yes, you heard me correctly. It all boils down to the Mindset of the candidates. Mindset is what differentiates between the mediocre team members and the superstar team members.
I know that identifying the single most essential ingredient of success is challenging because success is a complex and multifaceted concept. Different people may attribute their success to various factors depending on their experiences and perspectives.
However, if you were to distill success to its core, Mindset stands out as the most fundamental and crucial ingredient.
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Here're 3 reasons why Mindset is the most essential:
1. Overcoming Challenges & Getting Things Done
Success is rarely a linear journey. It involves overcoming obstacles, facing adversity, and navigating through difficulties. Having the right mindset keeps individuals going when faced with challenges.
People with poor mindsets will say, "It's too difficult!" but people with the right mindset will say, "Everything worthwhile to achieve is difficult."
When people with poor mindsets say, "This is impossible!" those with the right mindset will say, "Let's look at ways to make it happen!"
People with poor mindsets will say, "There's no road there…" but people with the right mindset will say, "Let's make the road."
As you can see, those with the right mindset will circumvent and overcome roadblocks – instead of just getting stuck and giving up!
2. Learning from Failure, Resiliency & Adaptability
Failures are inevitable in any pursuit. Mindset allows you to learn from failures, adapt, and continue moving forward rather than being discouraged.
When people with poor mindsets say: "We lose the customer; thus, we won't meet this year's target," those with the right mindset say, "Too bad we lose the customer. But we have now learned our lesson. Let's find new opportunities to meet/exceed the target."
You see, it's Mindset that makes you unwilling to accept failure and find ways to turn a failure into a success. Mindset drives you to keep getting up, no matter how many times Life knocks you down.
This is very important because the business landscape is dynamic, and external factors can be unpredictable. Mindset enables individuals to weather uncertainty and continue working towards the objectives.
People with poor mindsets will say, "The headwinds are too sudden and too strong. Let's give up!" but people with the right mindset will say, "Life is full of ups and downs. But we still need to achieve our goals – so let's adjust our strategy and redouble our effort!"
Yes, it's the Mindset that makes you keep going even though things are hard, even though the odds are against you, even though you so wanna give up already.
3. Doing the Best They Can, Being Strategic & Consistent
Many successful individuals attribute their achievements to the time and effort invested in doing their work. They strive for quality and excellence.
Those with poor mindsets think, "Let me just deliver the bare minimum required," while those with the right mindset think, "I must create a masterpiece – I will deliver the best work possible!"
Success is not just about making a strong push at the beginning; it involves consistent effort over time. Mindset is the driving force that keeps individuals focused on their goals over an extended period.
When people with poor mindsets say, "Let's just wing it," those with the right mindset will say, "Let's be prepared and be strategic to ensure the achievement of our goals."
As a final thought, while certifications, experience, and skills undoubtedly hold value, it is the mindset that differentiates mediocre people from superstars. It's the subtle yet powerful difference that can make a significant impact.
So, the next time you're building your team, remember: the true potential of a candidate lies not just in their qualifications but in the mindset that propels them to overcome challenges, learn from failures, and consistently deliver exceptional results.