How to Cultivate a Winning Mindset | Joseph Costello | TEDxInternationalSchoolofMyanmar

Summary

The speaker reflects on their life journey, emphasizing the importance of vision, determination, and controlling the controllables for success. They recount their progression from aspiring to graduate college, to becoming a community leader in sports, and finally pursuing a vision of organizational leadership. Through each stage, they highlight the role of perseverance, strategic planning, and focusing on what can be managed, as key to overcoming challenges and achieving goals.

Takeaways

• 💡 Vision is essential for success, acting as a guide to help you reach where you want to be in the future.
• 💪 Determination is crucial when challenges arise; persistence helps you stay on track toward achieving your goals.
• 🎯 Controlling the controllables means focusing on what you can influence and eliminating distractions.
• 🏆 The speaker’s first vision was to graduate college, which required getting a lacrosse scholarship to ease the financial burden.
• 🏅 Hard work and determination led the speaker to excel in lacrosse, earning multiple All-American awards and college recognition.
• 📚 After succeeding as an athlete, the speaker’s next vision was to help the community by growing youth lacrosse in Minnesota through strategic business knowledge.
• 🌍 The speaker expanded his efforts internationally, contributing to the growth of lacrosse in countries like Korea, China, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
• 🎓 The current goal is to become a school leader, with the speaker pursuing an MBA in the UK while balancing responsibilities as a lacrosse coach.
• 🌟 Determination was key during challenging times, especially when dealing with personal and academic pressures in England.
• 🗝️ The journey shaped the speaker into the person they needed to be, with no shortcuts, emphasizing the importance of resilience and determination in life.

Q & A

What are the three key stages in the speaker's life that they discuss in the script?

The speaker discusses three key stages: 1) Achieving a college education through sports scholarships, 2) Contributing to the growth of the community and sport, and 3) Becoming a school and organizational leader.

What does the speaker mean by 'Vision' in the context of their life experiences?

In the context of the speaker's life experiences, 'Vision' refers to a future goal or aspiration that is not currently within reach but can be achieved through strategy and effort.

How does the speaker define 'determination' in the script?

The speaker defines 'determination' as the ability to persevere and push through tough times, particularly when the path ahead seems unclear or challenging.

What is the significance of 'controlling the controllables' in the speaker's journey?

Controlling the controllables is significant as it helps the speaker to focus on what they can influence and manage, while ignoring external factors that are beyond their control.

How did the speaker's vision of attending college lead to their determination in sports?

The speaker's vision of attending college led to their determination in sports by recognizing the need for a scholarship and subsequently working hard to improve their lacrosse skills and leadership on the team.

What role did sports play in the speaker's initial vision of attending college?

Sports played a crucial role in the speaker's initial vision of attending college as they used their lacrosse skills to secure scholarships that eased the financial burden of higher education.

How did the speaker's experience in college contribute to their next vision of community contribution?

The speaker's experience in college, including earning All-American Awards and being part of national championship teams, provided them with the leadership skills and recognition needed to contribute to their community and grow the sport of lacrosse.

What strategies did the speaker employ to grow the sport of lacrosse in their community?

The speaker employed strategies such as studying business to understand operational knowledge, recruiting valuable contributors, and offering a range of opportunities like clinics, tournaments, and camps for youth lacrosse players.

How did the speaker's vision evolve from community contribution to international involvement?

The speaker's vision evolved from community contribution to international involvement by recognizing the potential to grow the sport globally and taking steps to contribute to lacrosse's development in countries like Korea, China, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

What challenges did the speaker face while pursuing their MBA in the UK and how did they overcome them?

The speaker faced challenges such as managing two lacrosse teams, completing MBA assignments, and maintaining a social media presence. They overcame these challenges through determination, relying on support systems, and focusing on the controllable aspects of their situation.

What is the key message or quote that the speaker leaves the audience with?

The key message is a quote from Asha TI, emphasizing that there are no shortcuts in life and that both the good and bad times shape us into who we need to be, and it's time to get to work.