The notion that successful people are smarter or more skilled than their less successful colleagues is outdated and false. Research presents evidence that success is dependent on one primary factor: putting in the inner work.
What people think about, how they respond to challenges and how they embody the lessons they learn directly determines how people reach their goals and achieve success. Possessing grit and a growth mindset predicts achievement across socioeconomic levels better than factors such as background, status, IQ or circumstances.
Putting in the inner work for success is frequently compared to building muscle: either use it or lose it. We all have unlimited potential to practice the inner work and build practical skills. The core work that successful people do is based on developing the following inner competencies:
Spirituality
- Practice radical compassion
- Connect with your local faith community
- Take time to meditate
Self-Efficacy
- Practice self-care and be gentle to yourself
- Be mindful and aware
Grit
- Discover and cultivate passions
- Practice tolerating discomfort in life
Adaptability
- Think of yourself as someone who is “flexible”
Growth Orientation
- State the primary long-term goal
- Create additional long- and short-term goals
- Involve other people in your goals
Emotional Regulation
- Practice mindfulness-based interventions and mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques to develop EQ (emotional quotient)
While committing to the inner work has great benefits, avoiding it could have costly consequences in the workplace. For instance, poor leadership costs U.S. companies $550 billion a year in lost productivity. Additionally, just 19% of national organizations think their leaders are effective at developing others. Starting your personal awakening journey as soon as possible helps people lead using their unique skill sets, talents and insights. It has also been proven that higher emotional intelligence leads to greater marital satisfaction, stronger commitment and fewer conflicts at home. The first step? Putting in the inner work.
