How to Develop an Anticipatory Mindset

Too Much To Do and To Little Time to Do It….Ugh Monday is tomorrow!  When can you catch a break ! From being a combat veteran  To being a husband and father  To CISO, business executive and CEO Stress can get out of control – I like to use Sundays as a time for focused personal development. From reading a book to Rucking (or other heavy workouts) to journaling about what I am grateful for. Sundays are a great time to pause and see the bigger picture. Strategic Reflection Session: Dedicate 60 minutes each Sunday to reflect on the past week's critical decisions, their reasoning, and outcomes. Analyze how these align with your broader life and career objectives. This deliberate reflection aids in developing deeper strategic insights and enhances the ability to predict and manage future challenges. Learning from Diverse Fields: Every other week, commit to reading or attending a seminar outside your usual field of expertise but relevant to leadership, cybersecurity, or relationships. Delve into behavioral economics, military strategy, or organizational psychology to broaden your perspective, strengthen your strategic thinking, and improve your capability to identify and mitigate complex security issues. Self-Awareness: Closely to your inner dialogue, particularly during stressful or negative moments. Identify recurring thought patterns, such as tendencies to catastrophize or self-criticize. Approach these thoughts with curiosity rather than judgment, and understand their impact on your emotions and behavior. Evidence Examination: Question the validity of your negative thoughts. Assess the evidence supporting these beliefs and consider alternative viewpoints. Reminding yourself of past achievements and strengths can counteract negative assumptions and help you view situations more objectively. Narrative Change: Words can shape reality, making it essential to transform your internal narrative. Shift from negative or critical self-talk to more positive or neutral language, fostering a mindset of learning and growth rather than failure and inadequacy. Perspective Shift: Offer yourself the same compassion and advice you would give a friend in a similar situation. This shift towards a more empathetic and realistic view of your circumstances can lead to a more balanced and positive outlook. Present-Moment Focus: Concentrate on the present to break free from the cycle of negative thoughts tied to past regrets or future anxieties. Mindfulness practices help you stay focused now, enhance your awareness of the immediate environment, and promote mental stability. Incorporating these practices into your Sunday routine can lead to significant personal and professional growth, enabling you to approach life with a more strategic, informed, and positive mindset. Great people to follow on this topic Jon Macaskill Herb Thompson Atlas Aultman Ashwin Krishnan Jason Firch, MBA #CISO #CEO #CIO #Cybersecurity #Leadership #personaldevelopment #mindfulness

Your state of mind has more impact on your outcomes than anything else. Imagine if the walls closing in on your ambitions were actually built by your own thoughts. Erwin Raphael McManus in his insightful book "Mind Shift" sheds light on a powerful idea: If my mind can be structured for failure, then it can also be structured for success. This isn't just motivational mumbo-jumbo... it's a reality check. The structures of our minds aren't fixed. They are as changeable as clay. We are the sculptors. Every thought we entertain is shaping this sculpture. So, why not use this malleability to our advantage? By consciously choosing optimism and resilience over pessimism and defeat, we can reshape our mental framework to not only anticipate success but drive it. This is true in every aspect of your life. For example, in business, a study conducted by the University of California found that employees with a positive mindset were 31% more productive and 37% better at sales than their less positive counterparts. And, in health, the University College London concluded that happy, positive people are 35% less likely to die over a five-year period compared to their less happy counterparts. What you think impacts what you become. How do we start? 1. Begin with small, daily affirmations. ↳ True story. I sold books door-to-door in college and the only thing that got me through thousands of rejections while being pummeled by the sun and mosquitos was a habit of daily affirmations. 2. Reflect on your successes. ↳ No matter how minor, a win is a win. If you fail to celebrate each, the losses will feel larger. Start here. Two simple thoughts. Over time, these practices will cement a foundation of confidence. Remember, the architecture of your success is designed in the mind. So, lay your bricks. Let's rethink our limits. What's one thought pattern you're committed to changing? Share your thoughts below!

Is predictability your security blanket? In my coaching practice, I often work with corporate clients who feel most comfortable in predictable environments, treating them like a safety blanket, unintentionally. When I challenge them to get messy, they come to truly appreciate that the best decisions are in the not-so-predictable space. Innovative ideas ignite during messy explorations when you let go and explore uncharted territory. It’s in that uncomfortable space between the familiar and the unknown that those aha moments erupt. I like to suggest ditching the control panel: 1. 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀! Schedule time for unstructured exploration, whether it’s reading books outside your field, attending unconventional conferences, or simply allowing yourself to dream big. 2. 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁. Let go of the need for immediate answers. This one was hard for me at the start. I’ve learned the most powerful insights emerge from wrestling with complex problems creatively. 3. 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘆 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲. Recognize the value of thinking outside the box, even if those ideas don't lead to a final solution right away. Let it breathe a bit! 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? Share your insights in the comments below! #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #mindset #decisions #innovation