According to a recent report by Gallup, the mental health of Americans has dropped to its lowest point in two decades. This is largely because of the pandemic, which has led to a 9% drop in the number of people who feel their mental health is excellent. Business managers and entrepreneurs can relate, but it’s important that they stay on top of their game, especially as we close in on the finish line of this incredible pandemic marathon.
“It is now more important than ever, that we dig deeper and rely on our ‘mental edge’,” explains Leon Goren, president and chief executive officer of PEO Leadership. “Having a mental edge, as Goren explains, means being fueled by a passion and purpose created out of one’s curiosity and desire to succeed. You can identify leaders and individuals who operate with a mental edge by witnessing their distinct hunger and fire to succeed both personally and professionally. These are folks who define what success looks like, set their journey, and push forward relentlessly without making any excuses. Giving up is not in their vocabulary.”
For those of you operating with a mental edge today, great, and for those who are not, it’s important to understand that you can start at any time. By improving and maintaining your mental edge, you’re focused on maintaining your mental health! To get started, here are a few characteristics that those with a mental edge operate with:
Passion and Purpose. Those with the mental edge tend to have spent time exploring their passions and linking it to a greater purpose. They believe in what they are doing, which drives their motivation to continue to keep moving forward, even as challenging situations may occur.
Confidence. They believe they can achieve the impossible and that life is happening for them, not to them. They understand that they have the capabilities to get the job done, improve their lives and are not waiting around for someone else to do it for them. Fearlessness. It’s not that they don’t experience fear – they turn fear to their advantage. They allow themselves to experience setbacks with an understanding that there are challenges that need to be overcome as they move towards their long-term goals. They know that success demands risk-taking, which means failing and trying again.
Perseverance. They are resilient and hardworking. They recognize that life isn’t always fair and have the attitude that they will drive on regardless.
Curiosity and Growth. Mentally healthy people stay hungry, by being curious and willing to grow and learn. They have a deep-rooted desire to solve problems and learn from others’ successes and failures. They are willing to take on more, learn new things, and move out of their comfort zone.
“It’s really important that people focus on gaining that mental edge,” added Goren. “When you have good mental health, you will be able to bounce back, think of solutions more clearly, become more creative and enjoy life along the way. This is just one of the many issues that we work on with PEO Leadership members. It’s also one of the reasons we will engage with leaders such as Steven Kotler, who is a New York Times bestselling author and one of the world’s leading experts on human performance.”
There are numerous ways that people can move toward having a mental edge. It starts by deciding that is the direction that you want to go. Then, some of the things you can do are focus on having a positive attitude, surround yourself with those who are positive and will offer you honest immediate feedback, exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep, and engage in daily meditation.
PEO Leadership offers an executive leadership community that represents over 100 business leaders, successful entrepreneurs, and top executives. Its services include peer advisory boards, executive advisors/coaches, community connections, strategic business advice, an annual world-class leadership conference, and thought leadership events including PEO Leadership’s “The Way Forward” live webcast and podcast. The company is owned by Leon Goren, who has over 25 years of leadership experience.
PEO Leadership offers leadership advisory services in six categories, for presidents/C-suite executives of large national and multinational organizations, entrepreneurs of large national and multinational companies, global executives, small business entrepreneurs, senior executives, and businesses in transition. There is a 60-day free trial Leadership Bootcamp available. To get more information or obtain a free trial, visit the site at: https://peo-leadership.com.
Leon Goren, president and chief executive officer of PEO Leadership
