I was standing in my garden this morning, watering plants under the hot sun. My shirt was soaked with sweat, and honestly? I was tired. But you know what? Ten years ago, I would never have thought to do this. Back then, I sat in my comfortable office and worried about getting my hands dirty.
That difference? It’s all about mindset.
Let me tell you my story—and maybe it’ll help you too.
Why Is Mindset Important for Success?
In 2014, my business partner and I launched our first business. We were so excited! But by 2015, we had to close it down. We failed.
Did we give up? No. In 2017, we tried again. And guess what happened? We failed again in 2019.
Two failures. Two times losing money, facing embarrassment, and feeling like maybe we just weren’t meant for this.
But here’s what I learned: your life today is shaped by the thoughts you had yesterday. If you want tomorrow to be different, you can’t keep thinking the same way.
After my second failure, I spent three years studying what went wrong. I went to workshops. I found mentors. I watched successful people and asked myself, ‘What are they doing differently?’
In 2023, we started our third business. This time, something had changed—not our circumstances, but our personal growth mindset.
How to Change Your Thinking to Change Your Life
Here’s the truth: changing how you think isn’t magic, and it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s more like… brushing your teeth. You have to do it every single day.
Let me share five mindset shifts that completely changed my life. These aren’t just theories—I lived through them.
1. Replace “I Can’t” with “I Can Learn.”
This is huge. This is the growth mindset for success in action.
When I started my first business, I thought you either had talent or you didn’t. Smart people succeed. Average people like me? Well, we just try our best and hope.
Wrong.
Successful people don’t believe they’re born special. They believe they can learn anything. When you truly accept this, everything changes. New challenges become exciting instead of scary.
Look at my garden—it used to be a mess of weeds and wild grass. I didn’t know anything about gardening! But I watched YouTube videos, asked my neighbor for advice, and tried things. Now it’s organized and beautiful.
The old me from 2014 would have said, “I’m not a gardening person.” The new me says, “I don’t know yet, but I can figure it out.”
How to change your mindset here: Next time you say “I can’t,” stop yourself. Add three words: “…yet, but I’m learning.”
2. Stop Blaming, Start Taking Responsibility
Here’s an uncomfortable truth I had to face: both times my business failed, I blamed everything except myself.
“The economy is bad.”
“Our competitors have more money.”
“My employees didn’t work hard enough.”
You know what I never said? “Maybe I made some mistakes. Maybe I need to improve.”
As long as you blame the economy, your parents, your boss, or bad luck, you’re giving away your power. You’re saying, “I’m helpless. I’m a victim.”
Taking 100% responsibility doesn’t mean everything is your fault. It means you’re in control of your response. That’s actually really freeing!
Practical tip: When something goes wrong this week, ask yourself: “What’s the one thing I could have done differently?” Not to beat yourself up—just to learn.
3. Fear of Staying the Same More Than Failing
Most people don’t start businesses or try new things because they’re terrified of failing. Losing money. Looking stupid. Being embarrassed.
But here’s what I realized: lessons learned from business failure are worth more than staying comfortable.
In 2014, I sat in my air-conditioned office every day, reviewing reports, staying clean and comfortable. Now? I work side-by-side with my team. I get dirty. I sweat. Sometimes my back hurts at the end of the day.
Why would I choose this? Because I learned that comfort was killing my growth.
When you start fearing staying the same more than you fear failure, everything shifts. You take smart risks. You try things. And yes, sometimes you fail—but you gain experience that no book or course can teach you.
Ask yourself: What would you try if you knew failure would teach you something valuable?
4. Learn from Success Instead of Feeling Jealous
After my second business collapsed in 2019, I’ll be honest—I felt jealous sometimes. I’d see other people succeeding and think, “They’re just lucky” or “They probably had rich parents.”
That thinking kept me stuck.
Then I shifted my perspective. Instead of feeling jealous, I got curious. How did they do it? What can I learn from them?
I started attending seminars (even small free ones). I observed successful people around me—not to copy them exactly, but to understand their mindset and strategies. I asked questions.
Jealousy closes your mind. Curiosity opens it.
Try this: Next time you see someone successful, instead of comparing yourself negatively, ask: “What’s one thing they’re doing that I could learn from?”
5. Practice Gratitude Over Scarcity
This one sounds simple, but it’s powerful.
When you constantly think, “I don’t have enough money,” “I don’t have a big house,” “I don’t have the right connections,” your brain focuses on what’s missing. You feel stuck and miserable.
But when you shift to gratitude—”I have my health,” “I have a working brain,” “I have people who support me”—suddenly you notice opportunities you couldn’t see before.
I’m not saying ignore real problems or pretend poverty doesn’t exist. I’m saying that a grateful mindset helps you see what you can work with, instead of only seeing what you lack.
Daily practice: Before bed, think of three specific things that went okay today. Not big things—small ones count. “My coffee tasted good.” “A friend texted me.” “I learned something new.”
How to Change Your Mindset: It’s a Daily Practice
Here’s the reality: you won’t change your mindset by reading one article (not even this one!). It’s like eating—you have to do it every day.
Your brain will try to go back to old patterns. Negative thoughts will pop up. That’s normal! The key is catching them quickly and replacing them.
When you think: “I’ll never succeed.”
Replace it with: “I haven’t succeeded yet, but I’m learning and growing.”
When you think: “This is too hard.”
Replace it with: “This is challenging, and that means I’m growing.”
When you think: “They’re so lucky.”
Replace it with: “What can I learn from their journey?”
It feels awkward at first. Sometimes you’ll forget. That’s okay. Just keep practicing.
My Garden, My Reminder
Every morning when I water my garden, I’m reminded of this journey. The garden didn’t transform overnight. I planted seeds, watered them daily, pulled out weeds, and adjusted things that weren’t working.
My mindset is the same. I’m still working on it. Some days are easier than others.
But the difference between who I was in 2014 and who I am now? It’s not talent. It’s not luck. It’s simply how I choose to think.
And that’s something we can all change—one thought at a time.
Your turn: Which of these five mindset shifts resonates with you most? Pick just one to work on this week. Start small. Be patient with yourself.
Success isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being a little bit better than yesterday.
