“One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.”
– Abraham Maslow
It is undeniable that success begins with the right mindset. Our mindset determines how we act, how we grow, and of course, whether we succeed. Our way of thinking plays a vital role in whether we end up living the life we dream about or live with regret pondering about what could have been.
There are two kinds of people. There are people with fixed mindsets who believe that, no matter what they do, they cannot change their abilities. Then, we have the ones with growth mindsets. These people relentlessly work to improve their capabilities. They have an innate belief that through hard work, dedication, and the willingness to learn from their mistakes, they can enhance their talent. People with growth mindsets always strive to achieve their personal bests. They do not believe in stagnancy. If you want to succeed, it is best that you adopt the mindset to grow.
If you think this is tough, worry not. Our experts are here to help you cultivate the mindset required to achieve your personal best.
Editor’s Note: The contributors share personal experiences related to mindset and well-being. Any references to therapy or mental health are for general information only and not intended as medical advice.
Small Health Tweaks Yield Big Personal Improvements
Figuring out my health felt like fixing a machine. Small tweaks eventually made a huge difference. We did the same thing at Superpower. We had to chop up the data, try different approaches, and see what actually worked for finding early risks. I’m not saying you need to track everything, but you can improve your normal routines if you just stay curious. The trick is to learn from what happens and treat feedback like a hint, not a judgment.
Max Marchione, Co-Founder, Superpower
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Weekly Check-Ins Transform Team Communication
At FATJOE, we started weekly check-ins. Just a quick talk about what was working and what wasn’t. That small habit made a huge difference. People started being more honest about their problems and helping each other out. I never called it accountability, but it worked. Just make it a regular habit.
Joe Davies, CEO, FATJOE
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Regular Work Contact Check-Ins Spark Unexpected Collaboration
Six months ago I started treating my work contacts like my key clients. Just regular check-ins, asking what they needed. The collaboration that’s happened since has been surprising. Seriously, just ask people what they’re working on and how you can help. It opens things up.
Tom Terronez, CEO, Medix Dental IT
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Process Over Perfection Builds Sustainable Success
A continuous growth mindset is about concentrating on process rather than result. It first begins with an understanding of improved self awareness and an awareness that conditions exist which indicate that improvement is necessary. A growth mindset is to be open to accepting challenges and developing the awareness that failure is part of the learning process. Feedback rather than moaning about the failure helps to identify what is necessary in order to adjust and progress. Small, continual steps toward action to enable improvements will achieve more sustained improvement over time, thus allowing the individual to operate in a grounded and controlled manner in his or her pursuit of goals without being overwhelmed.
In addition to this it is also useful to have a good idea of better what success looks like as it provides strong motivation. It helps to connect the individual to his or her purpose and develops a real sense of resilience. By looking at realistic goals and getting objectives which are achievable, and gaining recognition in attaining those objectives the individual experiences a level of success which adds to their level of belief in their capabilities. It is also important to concentrate on process and progress rather than perfection in building a mindset which helps individuals get to being the best self they can be while paving the way to sustained success.
Heike Kraemer, President and Dentist, Idea USA
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Leaders Learn Most When Teaching Others
I remember leading an international team, thinking I was the one in charge. I ended up learning more from how they handled problems than from any textbook. When you try to teach, you have to be ready to learn at the same time. That back and forth is what actually makes a team click and helps you grow faster.
David Cornado, Partner, French Teachers Association of Hong Kong
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Systems Beat Motivation for Lasting Results
Scaling Dirty Dough taught me that motivation is fickle, but systems aren’t. The trick is breaking your big goals into tiny, repeatable daily tasks. Those are what get you through the tough weeks. So aim high, but also block out time in your schedule to step back and just breathe. It’s the only way you’ll actually last without burning yourself out.
Bennett Maxwell, CEO, Franchise KI
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Daily Curiosity Prepares Attorneys for Change
As an attorney handling both criminal and immigration cases, I saw laws and policies change constantly. I had to keep learning just to stay afloat. This wasn’t some formal training, just daily reading and asking questions. It made a huge difference when I was stressed, helping me think on my feet. Honestly, staying curious is the only way to handle it.
Ramiro Lluis, Managing Attorney, Lluis Law
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Hands-On Failures Teach More Than Manuals
Building Rocker Ski Rack, I did everything myself. I remember those late nights in the shop, sweating and messing up. I once measured a rack completely wrong and had to cut it apart and start over. The frustration was real, but figuring out the problem taught me more than any manual. It wasn’t about comfort zones, it was just learning. You feel most lost right before you finally get it.
Peter Grossmann, Founder, Rocker Ski Rack
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Treat Personal Growth Like Client Projects
I treat my own growth like a client project. I break down big goals, track what actually works, and just change the plan if it’s not. It keeps me from getting sidetracked. Honestly, seeing that progress, even just crossing off one small task on a list, really helps keep you going.
Josiah Lipsmeyer, Founder, Plasthetix Plastic Surgery Marketing
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Cross-Industry Conversations Challenge Basic Assumptions
Here’s a pattern I’ve noticed at Threadgold Consulting. When I mentor other SaaS professionals but also talk to, say, farmers, things get interesting. They see problems so differently, without all the baggage. It forces me to question my basic assumptions, and that’s where some of our most valuable projects start. Don’t stay in your lane.
Karl Threadgold, Managing Director, Threadgold Consulting
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Journaling and Meditation Transform Leadership Style
During Cafely’s early days, what helped me transition from a leader who does everything to a leader who delegates was a combination of journaling and meditation. For one, I like having a tangible record of my goals, accomplishments, and reflections for the work day. Not only am I able to know myself better but it also gives me the opportunity to identify key improvements I can work on. On the other hand, I personally like the sense of calm and peace meditation gives. I find it particularly helpful before going into important meetings with potential business partners as well as when I’m about to meet my team and discuss Cafely’s long-term goals. What I’ve learned from this experience is that cultivating a mindset that helps you achieve your personal best takes discipline and time. And it’s always up to you and your intentions if it’ll be a success or not.
Mimi Nguyen, Founder, Cafely
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Track Personal Goals Like Work Projects
I don’t know why, but I started managing my own goals like a work project. I needed actual numbers I could track instead of just fuzzy feelings. My company CLDY.com does reviews for teams, so I started doing the same for myself. Every few months, I’d check my own progress and make a few small adjustments. It was simple, but it kept my head down and moving forward when things got hard.
Alvin Poh, Chairman, CLDY.com Pte Ltd
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New Ventures Reignite Passion After Success
Even though GRIN was doing well, I left. Starting Search Party felt like jumping off a cliff, but it snapped me out of complacency. I started having that 3 AM idea excitement again. If you’re feeling stuck, do something brand new that scares you a little. The awkwardness at the beginning fades.
Brandon Brown, CEO, Search Party
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Borrow Confidence Before Building Your Own
I’ve coached hundreds of people through their first amateur fight at Legends Boxing, and here’s what separates those who achieve their personal best from those who don’t: they learn to borrow confidence before they have their own. When I was training Shelby for our first-ever female main event, I told her straight up–“I’m not going to lose, we’re going to win.” She didn’t fully believe it yet, but she borrowed my certainty and did hill sprints at 9:30 PM after sparring because someone else’s conviction carried her through.
The mental shift happens when you stop waiting to feel ready and start rewarding yourself for just showing up. If you’re struggling with anxiety and you manage to walk out of your room and make coffee–celebrate that win. I still hate throwing a six-punch from my southpaw stance after years of boxing, but I practice it anyway because quitting guarantees it’ll never click. The possibility only exists if you keep going.
Take ownership of your outcomes completely. I orchestrated a 45% membership increase at Legends not by blaming market conditions or competition, but by analyzing every metric from lead generation to conversion rates and fixing what I controlled. When I see fighters lose and blame their opponent or their training, they never improve. The ones who win or lose and ask “what did I do wrong, what can I control next time”–those are the dangerous ones who become unstoppable.
Robby Welch, National Head Coach, Legends Boxing
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Tackle Impossible Tasks to Build Resilience
Here’s what I’ve learned running teams. You don’t magically become resilient. You get that way by surviving the hard stuff, like when our entire supply chain collapsed. We just put our heads down and fixed one thing at a time. For anyone trying to improve, my only suggestion is to regularly take on something you’re pretty sure you can’t do. That’s how you actually grow.
Andrew Dunn, Vice President of Marketing, Zentro Internet
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Consistent Habits Create Excellence Over Time
There is no “one weird trick” to reach your personal best. It’s not going to happen miraculously someday all by itself. Excellence is made of steady, consistent, habitual effort. Focus on optimizing your day-to-day, from your sleep and nutrition to your communication habits, and keep looking for little ways to incrementally improve. Over time, this will bring you consistent results.
Wynter Johnson, CEO, Caily
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Document Focus Habits for Better Results
Here’s what actually works. Write down what helps you focus and come up with good ideas, then make that a routine. At my company, Magic Hour, we started a weekly check-in to see what was going well and where we were stuck. It made our work better and the team happier. So don’t just set goals. Figure out the good habits that get you there, and make sure you get real rest so you don’t burn out.
Runbo Li, CEO, Magic Hour
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Cultural Exchange Sessions Boost Problem-Solving Skills
My team comes from all over, so we started hosting cultural exchange sessions. It worked. People didn’t just pick up a few words, they learned entirely new ways their colleagues solved problems. That made them quicker on their feet when things went sideways. It’s not a quick fix, but over time you notice people get more curious and less flustered by surprises.
Yoan Amselem, Managing Director, German Cultural Association of Hong Kong
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Teach Dogs One Command at a Time
Don’t try to teach a dog everything at once. I had this client with a nervous dog, so we spent a whole week just on “sit.” Every time he did it, he got a little piece of cheese. That was our win. Only then did we move on to “down.” Keep it simple, repetitive, and celebrate the small stuff. It’s less overwhelming for both you and the dog.
Mark Spivak, Founder, Comprehensive Pet Therapy (CPT)
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Compare Present Self to Past Achievements
I believe that first and the most important a person can do is to start comparing her/himself in the present with their past versions. Sometimes you might be surprise of how many goods and inspiring things you have already achieved by being yourself and working hard.
Another important thing is to face challenges and do not avoid them.
Finally, stop scrolling social media. They are time killers, they create “scripts’ for your life which you try to follow on a daily basis, and, finally, the show you the life and achievements that do not exist.
Daria Turanska, Legal Manager, FasterDraft
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Consistency Beats Intensity for Real Progress
Start by focusing on consistency over intensity. Most people chase breakthroughs instead of building habits that actually move them forward. The mindset that drives real progress is one built on awareness, patience, and effort. You have to learn how to show up when it’s inconvenient and still do the work with purpose. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s showing up often enough to evolve. At Motive Training, we teach people that progress comes from stacking small, intentional wins, not from chasing extremes. That shift in mindset changes everything.
Brian Murray, Founder, Motive Training
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Curiosity Without Ego Prevents Leadership Burnout
The mindset that changed everything for me is curiosity without ego. Whenever I hit a problem, whether it’s production issues or leadership challenges, I try to ask, “What can I learn from this?” instead of “Why is this happening to me?” It keeps me improving without burning out, and it’s helped me grow as both a person and a business owner.
Hershel Glueck, CEO, Hero Time
Share Your Insights
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your experiences and insights in the comments below:
- What small change has made the biggest impact on your personal growth?
- How do you keep yourself motivated to improve every day?
- Which mindset shift has helped you overcome challenges at work or in life?
Alignment with the UN SDGs
- Promotes lifelong learning and skill development (SDG 4)
- Encourages healthy work-life balance and mental well-being (SDG 3)
- Fosters inclusive, supportive, and equitable workplaces (SDG 8)
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What a truly inspiring and well-structured piece — a thoughtful blend of insight, experience, and practical wisdom. 🌟
This article beautifully captures the essence of Abraham Maslow’s quote — that growth is not a one-time choice but a continual act of courage. The introduction sets the tone perfectly, emphasizing how mindset forms the foundation of success and fulfillment. By contrasting the fixed and growth mindsets so clearly, you provide readers with both understanding and motivation to evolve.
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