In this week’s blog post, we continue reviewing the mindset and actions that we can take to be unstoppable. You can read Part 1 of this blog series here.

Watch the Youtube Video related to this week’s blog post here.

6. See yourself as the unexpected champion

We all love the stories of the underdog, when the unexpected champion comes in and wins the trophy. So if you have been viewed as the last in line, then it’s fine. You are set up to sneak in from behind and take the crown! You may have been consistently underestimated and dismissed, but use the opposition as fuel to work harder and develop thick skin. Success requires thick skin, and we all want to be successful but not everyone wants to deal with the inevitable criticism, opposition, judgement and jealousy that comes with being on top. Learn to use the challenges that you are going through now as training ground for the bigger battles that you will face as you climb the corporate ladder or achieve higher levels of success.

7. Develop a winning mantra

People who consistently win have a way of thinking, speaking and showing up that is completely different from the people who come second place. Realize that you are not static, and you can transform! All is not lost. Adapt a new, positive mindset that supports your goals. Even if you have spent a lifetime engaging in negative thought patterns, you have the ability to transform your brain and your way of thinking by feeding your brain on new positive thought patterns through reading, listening and consuming information that will transform you. Due to science of neuroplasticity, we now know that it is never too late to affect change in our brain and its thought patterns. Replace negative thoughts that you have toward yourself with positive ones, and know that you are enough just as you are today. You are not waiting to be complete, you are complete now. You have all that you need already within you to achieve whatever goal you desire. Learn more about positive affirmations in my Youtube video where I also share, the powerful and life changing mantra that I have used for years.

8. Don’t allow criticism to fizzle you out

Many of us allow the actual or the imagined opinion of others to stop us in our tracks and fizzle out the fire of passion within us, but don’t allow criticism to stop you. This is a topic that I keep coming back to over and over again because it is amazing how this one thing keeps many people hiding and playing smaller than they are meant to play in life. The desire to be socially acceptable and not stand out from the crowd has caused many people to forfeit their potential just because we want to maintain an image with people that we don’t even like or respect. No matter what you do, you will be criticized by someone, and you will never make everyone happy so don’t even try. I have come to the conclusion that the worse thing isn’t to be criticized, it is actually NOT being criticized because if you are never criticized you are probably not making an impact or doing anything of value. So instead of being discouraged by critics, allow it to be a sign that you are doing something of great importance. As Eleanor Roosevelt said “Do what you feel in your heart to be right for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.” For more on how to handle criticism, read this blog post.

9. Be stubborn … sometimes

This one may sound controversial, but hang in there with me a minute. We need to learn to have an unwavering belief that our perspective is just as important as everyone else’s. A lot of times the people that struggle with believing in themselves, the minute that they are presented with contrary information to the perspective that they have, they back down. This rapid willingness to back down negatively impacts their credibility even tough they are right most of the times, because people are not wiling to trust them when it appears that they don’t trust themselves enough to stand their ground. So do your research thoroughly and then make a data based decision and stick to it ferociously and only back down if you are presented with new data that you didn’t have before that proves your previous perspective wrong. It is ok to admit that you made the wrong call especially when it was based on insufficient data, this is true humility. Don’t be just one thing though, meaning don’t just be humble or just be stubborn. Choose to be stubborn when needed to drive a specific result and choose to be humble when you have made a mistake. This is how you are both bold and intellectually humble at the same time.

10. Listen to yourself by embracing silence and solitude

Many of us have not developed our own perspective and opinions because we have spent too much time listening to everyone else. Take some time to silence the distraction of everyone else’s perspective and look inward to ask yourself how you feel, what you think, and what you really want. The synergy of two people working together interdependently must be preceded by a level of independent thought, otherwise it will become an unhealthy co-dependency. Good leaders know how to listen to the counsel of advisors to inform their opinion and perspective. But ultimately they will need to decide whether they will adapt the advice as their own or if they will choose to go another route in line with their own values and purpose. You can read this blog for more on how to start practicing silence aka meditation.

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How To Believe In Yourself & Become Unstoppable Part 2