The Washington Magazine

The Washington Magazine

How to Adopt the Mindset of a High Achiever in Business

Many people find themselves asking the question, How do I adopt the mindset of high achievers in business? This is a fantastic question, and it’s one that deserves a well-constructed answer. The truth of the matter is that you can take actionable steps to put yourself in the right mindset to become more successful in your personal and professional life. These methods have helped many different people gain the success they desired, and they can work for you too! Here are some tips on how to adopt the mindset of high achievers in business today!

Set SMART goals

When you’re an entrepreneur, sometimes it feels like there’s always more work to do. It’s easy to get bogged down, stressed out and demoralized. But that doesn’t have to be you. By setting SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound), you can not only boost your chances of success but also improve your general well-being by simplifying your workload and becoming more organized.

Show up every day

There’s no real way around it—if you want to succeed, you have to be willing to put in time. When Warren Buffett says he invests 80% of his day reading and thinking about business, he’s speaking from experience. It takes hours, days, weeks and years of hard work before you begin seeing results. If you show up every day (and sometimes that means showing up when you don’t feel like it), eventually your hard work will pay off.

Get out there and network

If you want business, you need to go out and get it. That doesn’t mean you have to spend your whole life at work-related social events (unless, of course, that’s what you enjoy). But it does mean that there are people who can benefit from your services who might not even know they need them—which means you have to put yourself out there. Take every opportunity available—conferences, seminars, industry gatherings—and establish some deep relationships with other professionals.

Ask your boss for feedback regularly

No one’s going to tell you what your biggest flaw is if you don’t ask them. This can help you understand how well your boss perceives your performance and give you clear direction on what it takes to climb up that corporate ladder. Make sure every review includes an honest evaluation of how you are doing—no half-truths, no sugarcoating.

Identify what you’re good at, then do more of it

When you’re getting started, it can be tempting to list every single skill and tool at your disposal on your CV. However, don’t be tempted by credentials alone—there’s nothing worse than an employee who tries to do too much and ends up doing none of it well. Instead, think about what you’re good at and try to focus on that in particular.

Follow up with people who connect with you on social media

It’s vital that you not only engage with your social media community but also actually follow up with those people who like, comment or share your posts. That’s because building a real relationship is essential when it comes to social media and marketing; those relationships will ultimately lead to new clients and sales. It’s important that you take time on a regular basis—say once or twice per week—to look for new names in your feed, then reach out and thank them for their support.

Learn from successful people around you

Realize that successful people are simply those who don’t give up, no matter how many times they fall. Their secret? They choose not to let failure break them. Instead, they learn from their mistakes and move on. Do your best not to get discouraged by your past failures or you’ll likely repeat them down the road! Keep at it and, before long, you’ll be just as successful as those who came before you!

Hire an accountability partner

If you’re looking for inspiration, look no further than your accountability partner. Whether it’s your business partner, spouse or best friend, having someone who keeps you honest and on track is essential. Seek out someone with whom you can be completely open—about your fears and doubts as well as your successes—so that they can provide advice and support when needed.

Celebrate your wins, no matter how small they are

When you’re first starting out and facing long odds, it can be tempting to downplay your accomplishments. But these small wins are part of what drive your success, so don’t ignore them! Celebrate them and remember how far you’ve come. This kind of positivity keeps you motivated and provides encouragement for bigger steps down the road.