World’s highest achievers have one thing in common: it isn’t a high IQ, nor is it an incredible lucky streak, but their appreciation for constant learning through reading and practising. Education is the single best investment of our time that we can make. As Benjamin Franklin said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” This insight is fundamental to succeeding in our knowledge economy, yet few people realise it. Luckily, once you understand the value of knowledge, it’s simple to get more of it. Just dedicate yourself to constant learning.
Entrepreneurial skills – making value
“Meaning is essential to human beings. We continually need to make sense of our outer and inner worlds, find meaning in our environment and in our relationships with other human beings, and act according to that meaning” —Fritjof Capra, The systems View of Life
Entrepreneurial skills – Overcoming fear of failure
Fear of failure is the feeling of being afraid to carry out an activity to avoid any disappointment, anger, frustration or shame from not achieving a goal. People that usually have a fear of failure refuse to try new things, they procrastinate and talk in a non-respectful way to their own selves, and often they are also perfectionists.
One out of four startups fails because of the fear of failure. What is the one thing that the world’s greatest entrepreneurs all have in common? They aren’t afraid of failure. In fact, they embrace it! They are willing to fail and fail often. Successful entrepreneurs don’t crush it their first time up to bat…on average they fail almost 4 times before hitting one out of the park! (e.g. angry bird example).
Entrepreneurial skills – Ability of creative imagination
Creative imagination and goal visualisation is where it all begins if you want to increase the probability of reaching your goals. All top performers, regardless of profession, know the importance of picturing themselves succeeding in their minds before they actually do it in reality. Boxing legend Muhammad Ali was always stressing the importance of seeing himself victorious long before the actual fight. As a struggling young actor, Jim Carrey used to picture himself being the greatest actor in the world. These top performers, among many others, have mastered the technique of positive visualisation and openly credit it as a success tactic.