Successful thinking habits

Even the most successful people have blocks from time to time – something gets in the way of succeeding.

Here are eight ways to overcome blocks and achieve more, in work and personal life, through successful thinking habits.

1. Understand the “lands of W”

The negative land of W – wishing, wallowing, wasting time. Wishing it was Friday, wishing you had more staff, wishing there wasn’t a recession. Wallowing and complaining about what is happening, whinging about what isn’t going well for you. Wasting time – not doing the things that you need to do to succeed.

The positive land of W is where things are going well and so are you – wanting to achieve, willing to learn and working effectively. So it’s important to understand what moves you into the negative land of W – what sends you into a downward spiral and what helps you get back on track. What enables you to find your way back to the positive land of W? This is your turnaround key!

2. Uncover your blocks

Procrastination – recognise what is blocking you from making a start. Observe yourself each time you go off track and get blocked. What is causing it? Find out and change it! Know your weaknesses – understand them so you can fight them. And remember, while we all procrastinate, it doesn’t help.

3. Identify your scripts

Negative and positive scripts – recognise what you tell yourself, eg. “I’m bad at presentations”.
Find the power boosting scripts, the unblocking scripts, the enablers.
Shift from negative to positive scripts.

4. Voice your goals

Set achievable daily goals and say them out loud. Have them on your “to do” list and do them. Tell someone else what you are going to do and be pleased to tell them (and yourself) when they’re done. I like to voice goals to ensure I make them happen. It’s a commitment.

5. Effective use of time

Identify which tasks can be done simultaneously and be prepared to multi-task. Take advantage of occasions when you can do two tasks at once, like being on the phone and doing your filing! But when it comes to the bigger intense projects – focus, do it to completion, and feel good about getting it done.

6. Chutzpah and confidence

I love that Yiddish word – it was used on me as a child all the time – having chutzpah. It’s a kind of cheeky, risk taking attitude. See an opportunity and jump in. Have the confidence to step in make it happen, while others are still contemplating if it is an opportunity or not!

7. Stamina and persistence

The two essential attitudes for success are confidence and persistence. These essential skills help you deal with knock-backs and rejection.

Success comes from “keeping at it” until you succeed. But remember, some projects are not going to work no matter what you do. Don’t forget the need to stop and let go of the things that aren’t working, are out of date, or are in need of a radical overhaul. Once on the right path – don’t stop till you succeed!

8. Do it now!

It’s a very simple message to have in your head and helps you get on with it! DO IT NOW! You can have success even without scheduling tasks if you get things done immediately! Sometimes when you get into a productive mood to do the short easy tasks immediately – it can clear your head for the harder tasks!

See the video Succesful Thinking Habits

By Eve Ash, psychologist and Managing Director, Seven Dimensions, is the author of Rewrite Your Life! (Penguin) and co-producer with Peter Quarry of the Ash.Quarry production – Successful Thinking Habits (from the Take Away Training series) www.7dimensions.com.au

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