How to Have a Leadership Mindset | Shereen Mitwalli | TEDxMuscatWomen

Summary

In this inspiring speech, the speaker shares powerful insights on how successful people live above the line of mediocrity through resilience, persistence, and dedication. Drawing from personal experiences with renowned figures like Sir Richard Branson, JK Rowling, and Oprah Winfrey, the speaker emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions, being adaptable, and maintaining a growth mindset. Using the example of JK Rowling’s journey from 12 rejections to the success of Harry Potter, the speaker encourages the audience to embrace failure as a stepping stone and to commit to a life of action, passion, and accountability.

Takeaways

• 😀 Successful people live 'above the line,' choosing resilience, dedication, and persistence over mediocrity and excuses.
• 😀 Resilience and persistence are crucial to success, as demonstrated by JK Rowling's story of facing 12 rejections before achieving success with Harry Potter.
• 😀 People who live 'above the line' take full responsibility for their actions and decisions, regardless of the outcome.
• 😀 It's important to stay teachable and remain open to learning, no matter how experienced or successful you become.
• 😀 Passion drives success. People who love what they do are more likely to push through challenges and maintain consistency.
• 😀 Successful people have clear routines, such as waking up early, exercising, and maintaining discipline in their daily lives.
• 😀 A visionary mindset is key to success. Successful individuals, like Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai, understand the value of long-term vision.
• 😀 Confidence, adaptability, and taking calculated risks are essential traits for those who live above the line.
• 😀 The ability to focus on solutions rather than problems is a defining characteristic of successful individuals.
• 😀 People who live below the line tend to blame others, make excuses, and adopt a negative mindset, limiting their chances of success.
• 😀 Success is a conscious decision. You must choose to live 'above the line' by taking responsibility, being disciplined, and focusing on continuous improvement.

Q & A

What is the main philosophy the speaker lives by and wants to share with the audience?

The speaker emphasizes living 'above the line' in life, which means striving for excellence, avoiding mediocrity, and taking responsibility for one’s actions and decisions. The idea is to reject excuses and blame, and instead focus on being resilient, dedicated, and persistent.

Who are some of the influential people the speaker has interviewed or met?

The speaker has interviewed and met influential figures like Sir Richard Branson, Jack Ma, Chris Gardner, Louis Hamilton, and GL Mantinea. These individuals inspired the speaker through their actions, mindset, and approach to success.

What does the speaker suggest can be learned from successful people?

The speaker suggests that by analyzing the daily routines and attributes of successful people, such as waking up early, being resilient, having a routine, exercising, and being passionate, one can implement these behaviors in their own life and improve their chances of success.

How does the speaker describe the line of life, and what is its significance?

The 'line of life' represents a choice between living above or below the line. Living above the line means striving for excellence and success, while living below the line is associated with mediocrity, excuses, and blame. The speaker encourages the audience to consciously choose to live above the line.

What role does resilience, dedication, and persistence play in achieving success, as illustrated by the speaker?

Resilience, dedication, and persistence are crucial for overcoming setbacks and rejections. The speaker shares the story of J.K. Rowling's persistence in getting 'Harry Potter' published, emphasizing that success often requires enduring multiple failures before achieving a breakthrough.

What does the story of J.K. Rowling's rejections teach the audience?

J.K. Rowling’s story teaches the importance of persistence and resilience. Despite facing 12 rejections from publishers, she continued to believe in her book and eventually found success. The story highlights how rejection is a part of the journey to success, and persistence can lead to breakthrough moments.

Why does the speaker emphasize being 'teachable'?

Being teachable means acknowledging that no matter how much one knows, there is always more to learn. The speaker stresses the importance of humility and continuous growth, as successful people never stop learning and improving themselves.

How does the speaker view failure in the context of success?

Failure is viewed as an inevitable part of the journey to success. Successful people are not afraid of failure and take full responsibility for their mistakes. They see failure as an opportunity to learn and grow, rather than something to be avoided or blamed on others.

What is the significance of the concept 'taking responsibility' in the speaker's philosophy?

Taking responsibility means owning both successes and failures. The speaker cites Richard Branson’s response to a business failure as an example of leadership. Acknowledging one’s role in both positive and negative outcomes is a key trait of people who live above the line.

What does the speaker mean by saying successful people focus on 'solutions' rather than 'problems'?

Successful people prioritize finding solutions to challenges rather than dwelling on the problems. The speaker highlights that they are strategic and action-oriented, always looking for ways to overcome obstacles, rather than letting setbacks define them.