Pillar 1 of the Mind Capture System: Mindset

This first Pillar of the Mind Capture System is Mindset. Without the proper mindset to guide the rest of your marketing system there is no hope for success or at least not lasting success. Let’s take an in-depth look at the first pillar of the system, Mindset, and why it’s important to focus on and make a priority.

Pillar #1 in the Mind Capture System: MINDSET

“Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.”
– Napoleon Hill

Recently, I was thinking about why fear and doubt continue to haunt so many people and wreak havoc on their minds. It’s a universal challenge and it got me to thinking about an article I wrote a few years ago to tie in with the Think and Grow Rich Summit I hosted in San Diego. As I went back through my notes, I came across this article and thought; this is even relevant and nails it as to why a proper mindset is critical to business success!

What is your biggest barrier to achievement? Is fear holding you back? I ask these two questions to set the stage and prepare you. In addition, I love questions as they are the perfect way to engage the mind which is not always easy to do in the digital, information-overload society we now live, work, and operate within.

So, my next question to you is… What is your biggest fear and is it holding you back? I encourage you to take a quick second and utilize the power of self-reflection –only humans have the ability by the way- to write down their biggest fear. Again, this is deeply personal, yet important and here’s why: we ALL have fear. It’s how we identify, evaluate it and take steps to deal with it, that matters most.

Recently, I was rereading through Napoleon Hill’s amazing and thought provoking 2011 release, Outwitting the Devil – The Secret to Freedom and Success, and I was fascinated by the following quote he uses to set the stage for the book:
“Fear is the tool of a man-made devil. Self-confident faith in one’s self is both the man-made weapon which defeats this devil and the man-made tool which builds a triumphant life. And it is more than that. It is a link to the irresistible forces of the universe which stand behind a man who does not believe in failure and defeat as being anything but temporary experiences.”
I think his recommendations about how to deal with fear and doubt are not only spot on, but even more important than ever especially at a time when the media continues to obsess, package, and aggressively market fear-based news and information. In addition, the lack of spotlight and attention being given to hard work and success stories built by honest businesses and entrepreneurs is a shocking indictment again to the fact that the media continues to focus on the wrong priorities by perpetually covering negative, fear-based stories and people. Hill warned about the media’s power to influence –often to scare not inspire- long before we had hundreds of TV stations, the Internet and mobile communications.

I am very blessed to be surrounded by many “Go-getters” who are dialed in and ready to face the challenges of life because they have a clear vision of where they want to go and grow towards. They know the ‘why’ behind their actions and it serves to inspire them, even when the chips are down, and it keeps them moving forward despite what life or others throw their direction.

Three Ways to Deal with Doubt and Get Back on Track

What do you do when you feel trapped, frozen, or unable to proceed? This is a serious question that we can all relate to and just this week I had to address this question head-on, as I had a massive feeling of overwhelm and doubt attempt to sabotage my Monday and the new week.

After another good day last night, I reflected on what happened to change my mental state of mind from being frozen and full of doubt on Monday, to having an amazing Tuesday and Wednesday. The self-reflection of what happened serves as a powerful reminder that a positive mindset has upon our life and business.

Here are three things I noted that helped me to change my state of mind Monday morning from doubt to productivity and getting things done within a short period of time.

#1: I slowed my mind down and asked the question, “Who can I call for insight on this?” Often when we’re confronted with a challenge or question, we ignore or skip over the fact that we have lots of people in our life that not only have insight to help us, but that are also available to pick us up when we’re feeling down or facing a challenge.

I looked back on Monday and realized that I reached out to a few people and asked them for their insight and the positive responses and ideas they shared were not only incredible, but that they served to add fuel to my motivational tank. This helped to gradually lift the fog of doubt and procrastination to get me back on point and return to acting mode.

In addition, I read a few chapters from Think and Grow Rich each day to inspire and remind me of how other successful people deal with doubt and reset their mind in a positive direction.

#2. I turned it over to the higher power. Where I’m about to go may offend some people, but that’s okay. I’m often amazed that when doubt creeps into our life we many times shut the God-light off or think in our minds that he’s not listening. I’m not here to preach, but I can tell you that when I reflected to God Monday an incredible weight lifted and not less than 24-hours later things seemed to flow better, my state of mind changed, and my motivation to get back on task and get things done took a whole new turn for the better.

I’ve written before about the power of faith and recognizing what I call “God-winks” that daily life presents to each one of us. The last two-days I noticed many of these and laughed out loud yesterday afternoon when multiple pieces of good news crossed my email inbox and voicemail messages late in the day. Again, I believe it wasn’t an accident, but a sign that faith and God work in ways we often miss, ignore, or rarely stop to comprehend and truly appreciate.

I’m reminded again of one of my favorite quotes that hang on my bedroom wall: