Mindset Development Tips

It’s simple math 🧐 I use to think that motivation was the key to monumental success. Long story short, it’s not. It’s about the little things you do every day that will take you from reasonable to slightly unreasonable to completely unreasonable progress. Your future is not defined by how motivated you are, but by your daily routines and systems. I believe in this so much that we named our company Butterfly 3ffect to reflect the value of incremental gains. we believe that that’s how the best people and brands grow. Here’s how you grow the small way: 1. Start by setting achievable goals, like reading one chapter of a book each day or going for a short walk 2. Practice gratitude by writing down three things you're thankful for every night before bed 3. Engage in daily self-reflection, even if it's just for a few minutes, to assess your thoughts and actions 4. Incorporate small acts of kindness into your daily routine, like holding the door for someone or offering a genuine compliment 5. Learn something new every day, whether it's a fun fact, a new word, or a new skill 6. Prioritise self-care by getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and taking breaks when needed 7. Surround yourself with positive influences, whether it's uplifting books, supportive friends, or inspiring podcasts 8. Embrace failure as a learning opportunity and a stepping stone to growth 9. Stay consistent and patient, knowing that small progress over time adds up to significant improvement 10. Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small, to stay motivated and encouraged along the way.

Some books are so big they become background noise. Mindset by Carol Dweck is one of them. But this book still holds a massive truth about how we learn, grow, and succeed. Dweck explains two mindsets we bring to life’s challenges: Fixed mindset: Your abilities are set. You either have it or you don’t. Failure = proof you’re not good enough. Growth mindset: Your abilities can improve. Effort matters. Failure = chance to get better. I grew up with a fixed mindset. I saw mistakes as indictments. If I didn’t “get it” right away, I figured it wasn’t for me. Reading this book in my 30s changed that. For me, it wasn’t just personal it was parental. I realized I didn’t want my kids to fear failure. I wanted them to see challenge as a signal to lean in. That shift changed how I praise, coach, and learn. The best part? Mindsets aren’t traits. They’re choices. And with awareness, we can train a growth mindset at any age. The takeaway: What you believe about your abilities shapes what you become. So when in doubt, don’t say: “I’m not good at this.” Say: “I’m not good at this yet.”

I knew stepping into a Chief People Officer role would be a major undertaking. And boy, was it. But as with any big leap, there’s what you expect to learn... and then there’s what you learn by living it. Over the past few years, one of the most important shifts I’ve made is moving from a function-first mindset to a business-first one. As a VP, I focused on how I could build the most thoughtful, progressive People strategies out there — and rolled out some pretty darn awesome #HR programs if I do say so myself. (See: Our 'No Negotiation Policy' and our '$100 Bonding Perk') But here's the thing: I didn't often have the "overall business success" in mind when I pushed these initiatives forward. I started with what I thought was best for my function (AKA: the #People strategy), and then retroactively found ways to justify it to leadership. As a C-suite executive, however, you have to be a business leader first, and a function leader second. Your number one priority must be to empower the success of the business. Your job as a C-suite executive is to start with the business goals, and work backwards from there to determine how you can best empower the business through your function. In my recent piece for the amazing Jess Yuen's The Left Hand Column, I unpack what that shift actually looks like — not just in theory, but in practice — and offer tactical prompts to help other People leaders build their own business-first mindset and catch yourself when you start to go astray. Some of what I cover: ✅ How to spot when you’re working backward from your function instead of forward from the business ✅ How to level up your fluency in company vitals, general business acumen, and cross-functional strategy ✅ Why it’s so important to trade territorial thinking for true collaboration (especially in moments of budget tension) If you’re in the middle of this shift — or working hard to get yourself CPO-ready — this post should offer a useful framework for navigating what’s next. 👉 Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eZTxiQWb 👉 Want even more tips for leveling up your leadership skills? Check out my top tips and tricks here: https://lnkd.in/egBrc4Kj

The Introvert's Survival Guide to Actually Enjoying (or at least surviving) Networking Events. I avoid networking events like they're tax audits or root canals. But sometimes you have to show up. (By have to, I mean, your business kind of depends on it.) Here's my "battle-tested" playbook for introverts who'd rather be home cleaning the litter box: Pre-Game Like an Athlete (or a Coward) • Set a timer for 47 minutes Not 45. Not an hour. 47. It's specific enough that you'll honor it. • Create your "Clark Kent Exit Strategy" Park near the exit. Know where the bathrooms are. Have a fake emergency ready. • Arrive unfashionably on-time Not early (too much small talk). Not late (everyone stares). Exactly on time when everyone's distracted. The Art of Strategic Positioning • Become furniture Find a high-top table. Claim it. Let extroverts come to you (they need a place to rest their drinks). • Master "Documentary Mode" Don't network. Observe. You're David Attenborough studying extroverts in their natural habitat. • Power Pose Like a Pro Stand near the food. Everyone comes to you. Plus, mouth full = legitimate reason not to talk. Conversation Hacks for the Socially Exhausted • The "Reverse Interview" Ask them 3 questions. They'll talk for 20 minutes. You nod. They think you're brilliant. "What are you most excited about doing this weekend?" • Deploy the "Introvert Card" "I'm actually an introvert, so this is my Olympics." Be transparently vulnerable. They laugh. Pressure's off. • The "Teaching Pivot" Turn every conversation into a mini-lesson. You're not networking, you're educating. Advanced Introvert Techniques • The "Phone Prop" Hold your phone like you're about to make a call. You look busy but approachable. Or, have a drink in your hand so they have something to do. • Find Another Introvert We can smell our own. Make eye contact with the person hiding by the plants. Form an alliance. You will both be relieved. • The "One Real Conversation" Rule Forget collecting 20 contacts. Have one meaningful conversation. Quality > quantity. The Grand Escape • The Irish Goodbye Just leave. Don't announce it. Disappear like Bruce Wayne. They'll think you're mysterious, not rude. • Leave on a High Had one good conversation? That's enough. You've won. Go home. • Recovery Protocol Schedule nothing for the next day. You've earned 24 hours of silence. Most "successful networkers" are performing too. They're just better actors. Not convinced? There's an alternative. I've built more meaningful connections through content than 1,000 networking events combined. Let people come to you through your content. Like they're doing right now. Who else is team "I'd rather create content than attend another networking mixer"? Drop a like if you've ever hidden in a bathroom stall to recharge. P.S. - My record for "shortest networking event attendance" is 3 minutes. Beat that. P.P.S. - Yes, I once brought a book to a networking event. No, I'm not sorry.

In 2008, Michael Phelps won Olympic GOLD - completely blind. The moment he dove in, his goggles filled with water. But he kept swimming. Most swimmers would’ve fallen apart. Phelps didn’t - because he had trained for chaos, hundreds of times. His coach, Bob Bowman, would break his goggles, remove clocks, exhaust him deliberately. Why? Because when you train under stress, performance becomes instinct. Psychologists call this stress inoculation. When you expose yourself to small, manageable stress: - Your amygdala (fear centre) becomes less reactive. - Your prefrontal cortex (logic centre) stays calmer under pressure. Phelps had rehearsed swimming blind so often that it felt normal. He knew the stroke count. He hit the wall without seeing it. And won GOLD by 0.01 seconds. The same science is why: - Navy SEALs tie their hands and practice underwater survival. - Astronauts simulate system failures in zero gravity. - Emergency responders train inside burning buildings. And you can build it too. Here’s how: ✅ Expose yourself to small discomforts. Take cold showers. Wake up 30 minutes earlier. Speak up in meetings. The goal is to build confidence that you can handle hard things. ✅ Use quick stress resets. Try cyclic sighing: Inhale deeply through your nose. Take a second small inhale. Exhale slowly through your mouth. Repeat 3-5 times to calm your system fast. ✅ Strengthen emotional endurance. Instead of avoiding difficult conversations, hard tasks, or feedback - lean into them. Facing small emotional challenges trains you for bigger ones later. ✅ Celebrate small victories. Every time you stay calm, adapt, or keep going under pressure - recognise it. These tiny wins are building your mental "muscle memory" for resilience. As a new parent, I know my son Krish will face his own "goggles-filled-with-water" moments someday. So the best I can do is model resilience myself. Because resilience isn’t gifted - it’s trained. And when you train your brain for chaos, you can survive anything. So I hope you do the same. If this made you pause, feel free to repost and share the thought. #healthandwellness #mentalhealth #stress

When I started leading a high-powered recruiting team, I had the traits of the TYRANT leaders I now call out. Here's why: Despite my degrees, certificates, and ongoing professional development, nothing prepared me to transition into leading. I still had an individual contributor (IC) mindset, which unintentionally led me to compete with my very capable team. At the time, I engaged in behaviors like: Taking over projects instead of developing my team. Working long hours, thinking it showed commitment. Making unilateral decisions vs collaborating. Giving orders instead of providing clarity and context. Hoarding information instead of communicating transparently. Prioritizing my metrics over team goals. A month in, my boss at the time sat down with me and told me to own my transition and to stop taking over work when someone asked for help. (she's one of the best Leader's I've ever had) To transform my mindset, I sought out a few internal sponsors and observed how they managed their teams. I also asked my team for feedback on where I could do better. Once I made the changes: mindset and action, I began demonstrating new leadership behaviors: Coaching my team and developing their problem-solving skills. ↳Created an authorization matrix to empower them to make decisions. Promoting work-life balance through prioritization and delegation. ↳I stopped working on vacation to set a better example. Making collaborative decisions to increase buy-in. ↳They worked on the reqs, so I asked for their ideas and where I could implement them. Painting a vision and equipping the team to get there themselves. ↳I translated the organization's vision down to how it affected our team goals. Openly communicating to build trust and transparency. ↳I promoted democratic decision-making and explained when it needed to be autocratic. Aligning on and championing team goals over my individual metrics. ↳I held weekly reviews where I celebrated their success because it was OUR success. Here's what I want you to take from this: 1. Develop your team's skills rather than trying to be the expert. 2. Delegate decisions to increase buy-in and leverage diverse perspectives. 3. Openly share information rather than hoarding knowledge and insight. 4. Recognize and elevate your team's contributions rather than taking individual credit. #aLITTLEadvice #leadership

Make a rule to never think twice about investments in yourself: • Books • Sleep • Fitness • Network • Quality food • Mental health • Personal development These investments pay dividends for a long time. You'll never regret making them. Think twice about material purchases instead. Try the 24-Hour Rule: After putting something in your cart, wait 24 hours to complete the order. If you still want it, order it. If not, skip it. This has saved me tons on stupid impulse purchases that would have gathered dust. An example: When I started my first job, I chose to live by myself rather than with three roommates. On the surface, it seemed dumb—about 2x the monthly cost—but gave me space for deep focus and deep relaxation. I think the investment paid for itself in accelerated growth within a year. The bias is to underestimate the value that these investments have. The financial cost is easily quantifiable, so we focus on it. But all of the benefits—focus, physical and mental health, network, etc—are difficult to measure, so we fail to properly account for them. Always invest in yourself. You’ll never regret it. Follow me Sahil Bloom to invest in yourself in the future!

Roles can be filled. Trust cannot be replaced. Loyalty doesn't come back once it walks out. After 15 years recruiting, I've seen this pattern wreck teams. Leaders treat people like line items. Take A-players for granted. Assume anyone can be swapped out. "Just another hire. Just another headcount." But here's what they miss: Trust takes years to build. Loyalty takes consistency to earn. And both disappear the moment people feel like a resource instead of a human. By the time leaders wake up? Their best people are already interviewing somewhere else. 10 small daily choices that make people stay 👇 1. See the effort, not just the outcome Results get the spotlight. Effort stays invisible. Ignored effort always leaves. 2. Have their back publicly When gossip spreads faster than your support, loyalty dies quietly. 3. Guard their energy Burnout isn't a character flaw - it's leadership neglect. Protect energy like you protect budgets. 4. Celebrate when they outgrow you You built their wings. Don't clip them when they're ready to fly. 5. Treat them as whole humans Not just a job title. Not just deliverables. People stay where they feel seen. 6. Make tough conversations kind Feedback without care is just criticism. Compassion helps truth land. 7. Create space for growth No room to stretch? They'll find oxygen elsewhere. 8. Let them shape decisions A seat at the table means their fingerprints are on the outcome. not just the execution. 9. Mark the moments that matter Birthdays. Work anniversaries. First wins. These small things anchor belonging. 10. Ask what they actually need Don't assume. Ask. Needs shift. Caring means asking again. Deadlines fade from memory. How you made someone feel? That stays forever. Safe. Seen. Heard. Validated. Valued. Be the reason someone stays. Not the reason they leave. ♻️ Repost if your network needs this ➕ Follow me for more: Shulin Lee P.S. Which of these do you wish your leader did more? 👇

Michael Jordan’s true superpower: ➟ Not his athleticism ➟ Not his shooting range ➟ Not his competitiveness It was his ability to live in the present. Mark Vancil, author of Rare Air, explains: “Most people struggle to be present… Most people live in fear because they project the past into the future. Michael’s a mystic. He was never anywhere else....His gift was not that he could jump high, run fast, shoot a basketball. His gift was that he was completely present and that was the separator." In the business landscape filled with noise, distraction and hustle culture, presence might be the most undervalued competitive edge. Here are ten ways to cultivate that same focus and clarity: 1. Practice active listening ➟ Focus completely on the person speaking, without interrupting or thinking ahead to your response. 2. Limit multitasking ➟ Focus on one task at a time, giving it your full attention. 3. Set clear intentions for meetings ➟ Enter every meeting with a specific goal or purpose in mind, staying engaged throughout. 4. Accept imperfections ➟ Release the need for everything to be perfect, and instead focus on doing the best you can without dwelling on outcomes. 5. Take regular breaks ➟ Step away from your desk to reset, refresh, and return with a clear, present mindset. 6. Engage in deep work ➟ Set aside uninterrupted blocks of time to tackle complex problems or projects without distractions. 7. Engage with your team ➟ Be fully present when collaborating with colleagues, offering them your undivided attention. 8. Stay open to feedback ➟ Be in the moment when receiving feedback, accepting it without defensiveness. 9. Reflect on your progress ➟ Regularly pause to assess your current work and goals, ensuring you’re not just moving through the motions, but truly progressing. 10. Use the "one thing" rule ➟ Identify one key task each day that will make the biggest impact and dedicate your focus to it until it's completed. In the words of Phil Jackson, one of the greatest coaches of all time: “A lot of athletes think the trick to getting better is just to work harder. But there is great power in non-action and non-thinking.” Not just a lesson for athletes. It’s a lesson for life. ♻️ Repost to inspire others. 👋🏼 Follow Daniel Abrahams.