Mindset of a Successful Project Leader
Written by Jason Schroeder
January 26, 2023
According to Jason Schroeder, all successful people have four things in common. You can think of these things as the four keys to success:
- clarity
- a personal organization system
- a morning routine
- the right mindset
But what is the right mindset? In this lesson, Jason talks about what makes a mindset right for success and how you can develop your mindset to be a good project leader and achieve your dreams.
Do you have the right mindset to be successful?
According to Jason, the right mindset is made up of a growth mindset and a rich mindset. And if you want to be successful, you have to develop both types.
Growth mindset versus fixed mindset
What is a growth mindset? It's the mindset that says, "I'm going to appreciate and value learning over knowing." If you have a growth mindset, you're learning every day. And when you get feedback, you value that as well.
"The growth mindset says, 'I'm not going to take offense at being corrected. I'm a learner. I grow and I develop. I'm open, transparent, vulnerable, and teachable,'" Jason explains.
The fixed mindset, on the other hand, is the opposite. People with a fixed mindset define their success by what they know. They're the people who always argue that they're right. They'll stick with their opinions, and they won't take any feedback. They're not open to anything new, and as a result, they don't grow.
Rich mindset versus poor mindset
Successful people also have a rich mindset.
Jason says, "You've heard of rich people who go bankrupt and lose all their money. Then a year later, they've earned it all back. They have a rich mindset. And you've probably heard of people like famous baseball players, for example, or someone who's won the lottery, and they have all that money, but a year later, they're broke. And it's because they have a poor mindset."
He goes on to say that, "People with a rich mindset will focus on adding value, on doing what it takes to contribute. They have multiple sources of income, and they don't have a problem spending money on the right things."
People with a poor mindset, however, take but don't give, and they avoid risks—even calculated ones. But if you have a rich mindset, you're open to opportunities, and you're okay with taking some risks. And that's what will get you on the road to success.
The right mindset
Having the right mindset will place your dreams within reach. But if you have the wrong mindset? "With the wrong mindset, you ain't going anywhere. So if you have to reset your mindset by reading the right books or doing the training, or getting coaching or mentoring, please do it," Jason requests.
Your mindset is worth investing in.
If you need help developing the right mindset, feed your mind with the following resources:
- Mindset, by Carol Dweck
- Focal Point by Brian Tracy
- Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Ever
It's also smart to find out what industry leaders are reading and listening to; you can learn a lot from the wisdom they've already built up.
Clarity
On top of mindset, you also need clarity if you want to be successful. But what exactly does clarity mean, and how can you achieve it?
"You have to know where you want to go in your life and in your position," Jason says. "And one of the best ways to get clear about where you want to go, is to write it down. Write it down, and your goals will become more clear, and more achievable."
Personal organization system
But there's more to achieving success than clarity and the right mindset. You need to get your goals into your personal organization system.
"If what you want doesn't become an active part of your organization system, so it's something you trigger yourself to work on every day, your mindset and clarity won't matter," Jason says. "And write it down, because you need to get things out of your head. Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them."
By harnessing the power of your organization system, you're able to take advantage of the 80/20 rule. This is a rule that says 20% of what you do will bring you 80% of your returns, while the other 80% will bring you only 20% of your returns. So you want to get that crucial 20% focused on the things that will move your life toward your dreams.
And if you need help getting organized? Schroeder recommended another book, Getting Things Done by David Allen.
Morning routine
The last key to success is a morning routine. A morning routine enables you to wake up in a focused way, with intentional goals. Your morning routine can be whatever you want to start your day with. But whatever it is, you need a routine. So if you don't have one, you need to find one.
"Remember, clarity, mindset, and personal organization won't matter if all you do is take from the world. But if you have those three things, and you also focus on giving, on adding value to the world, people will see that, and they'll support you. And a morning routine will help you do that," Jason explains.
Want to learn more about adding value to the world? Schroeder suggested trying Unleash the Power Within by Tony Robbins, or any other audio programs by Robbins or Brendon Burchard.
Takeaways
If you want success, it's simple. You need to develop the four things that all successful people have in common:
- Mindset. In order to be successful, you have to have a growth mindset and a rich mindset. Both mindsets work hand in hand to give you the right mindset for achieving your dreams.
- Clarity. The right mindset won't accomplish anything if you're not clear about what you want. So get that clarity so you live more intentionally.
- Personal organization system. Knowing what you want and having the right mindset won't get you far unless you have a system in place that enables you to do that 20% of work that will bring you 80% of the results you desire.
- Morning routine. No one wants to support someone who is always taking, and never gives. Find a morning routine that will help you hone your ability to contribute to the world and add value.
Do these four things, and you'll be one step closer to being the successful project leader you want to be.
