I am always amazed by one of the popular interview questions – where do you see yourself in the next XX years. While it’s hard to predict anything beyond two years, there is one thing I firmly believed throughout my career: Mindset drives actions, which lead to outcomes.
No, let me rephrase this to below:
A positive mindset drives relevant and practical actions, which lead to desired outcomes.
There is always an unconfident Steven in the back of my mind constantly playing me down:
You cannot speak English as good as native speakers, and you never will.
You cannot pass this interview as there are other candidates better than you competing for it.
You cannot get promoted as there are so many hurdles to overcome.
Luckily, there is always another positive mindset ending in triumph, which persuaded me to take the right actions from time to time.
You probably will never speak English as good as native speakers, but more practice will make it as good as it gets.
You probably will not pass this interview, but the better I prepare, the more likely I will win it, and the learning gained in this interview will help me conquer the next one.
You probably will not get promoted right now, but knowing a pathway is a good start.
With a positive mindset, I have achieved some career milestones beyond my wildest dreams. With a positive mindset, I overcame some common hurdles gracefully that most young professionals have encountered. Also, with the same positive mindset, I made some good decisions that I am proud of, bringing me to where I am now.
It’s never easy, and it’s only going to get more challenging as we progress. However, a positive mindset will remind us to treasure what we have and stimulate us to take actions that drive the desired outcome.
The miracle starts from a positive mindset. Do you agree?
Steven
A thinker and facilitator helping young professionals thrive.