By Dr. Rosh Khan
As you turn the chapter on 2017 and leap into 2018, you’re probably filled with breath-taking excitement and purpose! New resolutions. Bigger goals. Higher targets. It’s easy (and fun) to get caught up in the thrill of it all. We have a fresh chance for greater success in 2018.
But can I ask that we be brutally honest for a moment? I have zero intentions of bursting the balloon of hope for all that 2018 will do for you, but it’s time to queue a healthy dose of introspection.
When you analyse where you are today, compared to where you set out to be at the beginning of 2017, you’re either smiling or a feeling a little underwhelmed. 
If you’re smiling, well done! You’re on the right path. Keep striving, growing, and contributing. Don’t get complacent.
If you’re feeling underwhelmed, that’s okay! It was Ryan Holiday [an American author, marketer and entrepreneur] who beautifully said that we shouldn’t seek the path without obstacles, for the obstacle is the path – the obstacle is the way. If it’s been a tougher-than-anticipated year, it means opportunities for growth presented themselves and there are merely two questions to ask:
1. What’s the lesson here?
2. What is this preparing me for?
In as much as we orchestrated our triumphs and wins, we were also the ones that generated our defeats. We may not control all that happens to us but we do control our response. Our personal stories, the narratives we tell ourselves, the paradigms and belief systems we hold onto ultimately dictate our thoughts – whether positive or negative. Those very thoughts influence our decisions, which determine our actions, and thus, enable or create certain results.
Want better results? Simple. Start at the foundation. If we want to live a life that is inspired, purpose-driven, and full of zest, then we need to upgrade our paradigms. We need to focus on mindset.
Here are eight ‘mindset shifts’ that will empower you through 2018:
Wear Glasses That Work
The late Dr. Stephen Covey, [a renowned leadership authority, family expert, teacher, organizational consultant, and co-founder of FranklinCovey Co.], said, “We see the world not as it is but as we are.” We view not only ourselves but those around us through a set of lenses; and like any lens, they either sharpen or distort reality. Simply choosing how we see ourselves and others has a cascading effect on what we think, feel, and do. Think about the kind of ‘glasses’ you wear in certain situations or with specific people. It may be holding you back from seeing things as they really are.
Carry Your Own Weather
When we allow darkening clouds to dictate our mood, it’s easy to feel like a victim and surrender to the belief that we’re helplessly subject to the external world. We forget that we have the power to choose our response to people and situations. We have the ability to carry our own weather – internally.
Behave Your Way To Credibility
You cannot talk your way out of what you behaved yourself into. You must behave your way out of what you behaved yourself into. To behave with credibility, you must demonstrate character and competence. It doesn’t mean you need to be absolutely infallible but you should lead with honesty and integrity. Take the long-term view of situations and remember that your daily behaviour broadcasts your truest beliefs.
See The Tree, Not Just The Seedling
When we look at our potential or the potential of those around us – whether it’s a co-worker, friend, partner, or child – it requires us to see beyond the “seed” and envision the mighty tree it can become. Seeing potential in others doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a function of growth over time.
Discern The Important From The Urgent
It’s very easy to get caught up in the day to day urgencies but if we’re not careful, we can end up like a cat chasing its tail. It was Coach John Wooden who famously said, “Don’t mistake activity for achievement.” Sit down and be strategic about your productivity. Work more on what’s important than on what’s urgent. The person who tries to do everything often ends up doing nothing.
Struggle Daily
Discomfort is a reflection of growth. It is often that said that success lies outside of your comfort zone. If you’re not carving out time to nurture new skills, assimilate new information, or adopt ‘the beginner’s mindset,’ you are holding your best work hostage from the world. Seek out healthy struggles.
Ask Why
Whether you’re trying to find underlying motives, make a persuasive argument, or sol problems, deploying the 5-Why is a powerful tool. Just ask, “Why?” five (or more times) until you get to the fundamental issue. It’s unbelievably simple but profoundly powerful. Try it.
Start With Humility
Above all else, humility is foundational. Those who are humble have a secure sense of self; their validation doesn’t come from something external but is based on their true nature. To be humble means to shed one’s ego because your ‘authentic self’ is much greater than looking good, needing to have all the answers or being recognised by one’s peers. As a result, those who have cultivated humility have far greater energy to devote to others. They go from being consumed with themselves (an inner focus) to looking for ways to contribute and help others (an outer focus). Humility is the key to building solid character and strong, meaningful connections.
As you soar through 2018, remind yourself to look within. Transformation is an inside-out process. The change we want for the world is the change we must first embody.
Here’s to an inspired, victorious and purpose-driven 2018!
Dr. Rosh Khan is the president of FranklinCovey Guyana, The Masterclass Institute, and SocialRank Media – Guyana’s Leading Digital Agency. He is also the recipient of GCCI’s Young Business Executive Award for 2017. Khan can be contacted via mobile on 592-664-5848, email: rosh@socialrankmedia.com or Dr Rosh Khan on Facebook.
